How does the nursery know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?

The staff at The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School meet with the parents/carers of the child who wish to attend the nursery. During this meeting the Parents/carers are invited to tour the setting and meet with a Manager or Senior staff member to ascertain the needs of the child. The child completes a minimum of 4 settling in sessions during which the child’s allocated key person works alongside the parent/carer to complete an ‘Individual requirement form’ and an ‘All about me’ pack. The purpose of the pack is to give the child’s new key person as much information as possible to ease the transition into nursery/pre-school life.

Your child’s progress and development is monitored throughout their time at The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School and support plans are put in place if needed. All staff at The Warren Day Nursery and pre-school will share any concerns regarding your child with yourself and outside professionals once your permission is obtained.

If you have any concerns regarding your child please speak to your child’s designated Key Person or the designated SEND co-ordinators.

Heidi – Nursery Manager   heidi@warrennursery.co.uk

Becky Mardlin – Deputy Nursery Manager

Becky Mardlin  and Su Clark – SEND Co-Ordinators

Telephone number – 01892 653167

How will early years setting staff support my child?

The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School is an inclusive setting with a strong commitment to meeting the needs of all the children who attend. The special education needs & disabilities coordinator works together with all staff to ensure that the nursery environment and activities are accessible to all children. We provide a range of additional support for children who have been identified with an additional need. This might include:

• Working with the child’s parents/carers
• Accessing outside support to meet the child’s needs.
• Completing an Educational Healthcare Plan to support the child.
• Staff will attend any relevant training.

All staff at The Warren Day Nursery are aware of and follow the SEND Code of Practice. Our SEND Policy is implemented and shared with parents. The management team are continually reviewing and evaluating the quality and support we offer all children within the setting including access for children with SEN or disabilities.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

During the child’s journey through the early year’s foundation stage the practitioners within the setting, specifically the child’s key person will monitor their development and write assessments on their learning. These assessments are written with the support of the child’s parent/carer.

The practitioner’s observations and knowledge of the child, along with the child’s input if appropriate provide a holistic picture of the child’s learning and development. This is used by the child’s key person to set ‘Next Steps’ based upon the early years foundation stage. The next steps are developed using the child’s interests and individual needs.

The Early year’s foundation stage statutory curriculum is based upon Play. Development is not an automatic process and depends on each unique child having opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments. The Staff will use a range of strategies and resources to make sure the children enjoy and achieve during their time at The Warren.

How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?

At the Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School we continually track your child’s progress and interest’s. We complete a summative assessment twice a year and these assessments are analysed and look at individual/cohort development and progress in specific areas of learning. There is also an opportunity for you to meet with your child’s key person to discuss and celebrate the progress and achievements. As part of our ongoing assessment your child’s key person will complete an early communication and language monitoring sheet. This is also an ideal time to raise any concerns or highlight any opportunities for further learning and development. During this time you have the opportunity to look at the children’s work around the nursery and review your child’s learning journey. Each child’s learning journey is available to take home and read at your leisure.

The health visitor instigates a 2 year old check at 27 months which is an assessment of your child’s health, wellbeing and development. The Warren Nursery & Pre-School are required to contribute to this report detailing your childs developmental progress, along with your comments as a parent.

If your child has been identified as needing extra support within the setting a setting based support plan will be completed following a discussion with parents and the child’s key person and sent home. This document will show the activities that the child’s key person will be carrying out with your child and also give guidance on carrying out these activities in the home environment in order for us to work together. All SMART plans adopted by the staff are thoroughly evaluated and reviewed for their effectiveness within a set time frame.

Periodically parents are sent home next steps/planning in order to assist parents in their child’s development at home and an opportunity for parents to write comments. The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School aim to communicate with parents in a variety of ways and strongly believe in the benefits of parent partnership.

We use many varied ways to communicate with yourselves on your child’s progress and the support that is available. Along with news updates, emails, written notices and notice boards. The Warren Nursery also uses the social networking site Facebook.

At the Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School we operate an open door policy. If at any time you feel the need to speak to a member of the team and are unable to do so during handover periods we will ensure time is made at a convenient time for discussions to take place.

The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School are fully committed to accessing outside support with parental permission and understand the benefits of working together across education, health and care for joint outcomes. Our aim is to work with all outside professionals, informal settings and the child’s home environment to fully support all children.

What support will there be for my child’s overall well being?

The staff at The Warren continually access further training on the most up to date first aid and are committed to taking steps to ensure that children who wish to access the setting with medical conditions are supported to meet their needs. If a child has a specific medical need such as Asthma a health care plan will be completed.

The Warren is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment therefore, each child on entry to the setting is allocated a key person. The purpose of the Key Person system is to provide all children with an initial but not exclusive point of contact at the nursery. It is intended that a positive relationship be fostered with strong attachments and continuity of staffing arrangements wherever possible. All key people will monitor and observe their key child’s general wellbeing and be the main point of contact for every child’s health and care  routines.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the nursery?

The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School will access the specialist services and expertise needed depending on the children who attend the settings individual needs. The setting will access Health visitors, speech and language therapists, Portage workers, educational psychologists and other appropriate professionals.

Staff within the setting are trained or are training to work within the early years to a minimum Level 3, with the majority of staff Level 3 or higher. The management team are all degree qualified .

What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had or are having?

The designated Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinators (SENCO) access annual training provided by the local authorities including community network meetings. The SENCOs are competent in writing Setting Based Support Plans and contributing to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) alongside the local authority.

All staff are continually monitored to ensure they have the relevant skills and knowledge to support the children within our care. The staff developmental needs are identified and addressed appropriately.

How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom including school trips?

The Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School is an Inclusive setting who’s aim is to do everything in our power to accommodate all children in both our inside and outside activities. All children will be accessed to identify any support needed and risk assessments will be carried out where needed.

How accessible is the nursery environment?

The Warren is a converted barn set over two floors. When your child joins the setting the building will be accessed in order to best suit your child’s individual needs .

How will the setting prepare and support my child to join the nursery, transfer to a new setting or the next stage of education and life?

All children that join the nursery will be offered settling in visits to encourage them to settle in a new environment and bond with the child’s immediate carers / key person. The child’s parents / carers will complete an ‘Individual Requirement and All About Me’ document which will include information such as toileting, sleep patterns, allergies, favourite toys and interests

During your child’s transition to a new setting or school the child’s key person will complete a transition form which is completed alongside the child’s parents and carers to help provide the child’s new setting with all the appropriate information to enable a successful transitional period. Visits from teachers of local feeder schools aids in the smooth transition from pre-school to school. Key staff attend community hub meetings to strengthen the relationships between schools and other settings this supports children’s transitions between settings.

How are the nursery’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?

The Nursery environment is continually monitored and evaluated for its effectiveness and suitability to all children who access the setting. The child’s key person alongside the child’s parent or carer will work together to make sure the environment and resources are suitable for a child’s individual educational needs.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?

At the Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School all decisions regarding your child’s support and needs will be decided alongside the child’s parents/ carers with the support of outside agencies if needed

How are parents involved in the nursery? How can I be involved?

At the Warren Day Nursery and Pre-School we understand the huge benefits of having successful parent relationships and are continually encouraging parents to be involved in their child’s nursery life. Some of the opportunities available include, reading to the children, helping during an activity, sharing holiday experiences or visiting with grandparents. Every parent/carer is welcome to join the staff and children during their time with us.

We have an open door policy and specifically encourage parents of children with SEN to continually come into nursery to discuss the child’s progression, needs and communication with outside agencies.

Who can I contact for further information?

If you would like any further information please contact –

• Heidi – Nursery Manager   –          heidi@warrennursery.co.uk
• Telephone number: 01892 653167

Disclaimer

This offer is accurate now, but services are regularly reviewed and could change. All information will be updated as soon as possible to reflect any new service offer.

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This offer is intended to give you clear, accurate and accessible information.

Find out more about support for children and young people with special needs and disabilities: East Sussex Local Offer