Feering Nursery SEND Local Offer
OUR LOCAL OFFER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES
The purpose of a local offer is to enable parents and carers to see clearly what services are available for children with SEND in their area and how to access them. The following questions and answers forms our local offer and shows how we provide for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
1) How does Little Peeps know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs or disabilities? At Little peeps Nursery (Feering) each child has a designated key person. Their role is to develop trusting sensitive relationships with families and children to enable respectful sharing of information. If you have any concerns about your child’s development you can discuss these with our Manager Julie Etherington or your child’s key person. Reports from health care professionals, such as health visitors, speech and language therapists, will identify your child’s individual needs. We welcome parents and professionals sharing these reports in order to plan appropriately to meet these needs. Ongoing observational assessments are made of all children and are linked to the Development Matters ages and stages of development. This in some cases identifies individual needs. If your child’s key person has identified a possible individual need, they will discuss this with you, and plan with you to support your child’s learning and development. Little Peeps can seek support and advice from the Area Senco at Essex County Council with your permission.
2) How will you support my child? Before starting at Little Peeps Nursery we will invite you to a complimentary taster session. You will also be asked to attend the initial sessions with your child. This is part of our ‘Settling In’ Policy and Procedures, and is highly successful for all concerned. Parents and children can find this transition very scary and to relieve anxiety we want you to get to know us first. You and your child will relax once you have got to know us and the settings routines and boundaries. This time also helps us to build a picture and gain information about your child. We will ask you to complete a Personal Profile about your child which is in their Learning Journal; this will help us to share information about your child’s strengths and needs. At the taster session(s) you will be able to discuss with the Key Person and Manager Julie Etherington of any concerns or requirements your child may have. We will work with you to support your child together, listening to you and your child. Your child’s key person will be in the sessions your child attends, fostering a relationship with and understanding your child. We will work in partnership with you, reviewing the individual education plan (IEP) targets, and planning new ones together, and give ideas to use at home to support your child. The children will have, ‘Child Friendly Play Plans’ and targets that they can work towards.
3) How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs? We will get to know about your child before they start and through ongoing observational assessments. Targets linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage ages and stages of development will be set on IEP’s to support the learning and development of your child. This enables planning for individual needs and learning goals. In addition to the IEP, they will have a Learning Journal; this will contain written observations, photographs and samples of your child’s work to support staff in assessing and planning to help your child progress to their next steps. Your child’s key person will work to make sure that the environment, routines and activities support your child’s needs, and they will communicate with the rest of the staff to provide consistency and understanding within our team. We will ask for copies of assessments from other professionals before your child starts, and advice from our Area Senco at Essex County will be sought, if necessary, with your prior permission. Julie Etherington will monitor and analyse progress of children within the setting to address any areas of weakness. This information will be used to focus on specific areas and adapt areas that are not meeting the children’s needs. The children are involved in planning their next steps, consultations, helping with taking responsibility for their setting. The children’s Learning Styles, interests and stage of development will be recognised and used to promote achievements and development.
4) How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning? Assessment systems are in place such as the 2 year progress review, the progress wheel and continuing assessments shown in the child’s learning journey. We are a very welcoming and happy setting, with very good relationships with our families. We welcome parents and families to stay and play or read a story during our sessions. Newsletters are printed termly and given out to all parents/carers. A copy is also pinned to our notice board in the foyer. Each term you will receive a letter giving the topics/themes we will be looking at in order that parents or children can contribute to these.
5) What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being? Our practitioners are welcoming and friendly, providing an inclusive, sensitive and positive approach. They provide good role models for positive behaviour and are consistent in the day to day care of all our children. We are flexible in our routines to provide a positive environment for your child’s needs and provide personal care such as changing nappies. Personal health plans can be adopted if necessary and staff will be trained in giving the appropriate medication for your child if required. Should you child require regular prescribed medication then you will be required to complete and sign a Medication Permission form and you will be informed of the administration of the medicine and be asked to sign the form in accordance with our Administration of Medicines policy. Julie Etherington and Carel Cowell are our Designated First Aiders and oversea all medical forms. Staff are vetted and a vigorous recruitment process is in place. Julie Etherington and Carel Cowell are Safeguarding Persons, who attend regular conferences and training, Policies and Procedures are available for parents on the parent information table in the Community Centre Foyer. Activities will be adapted to ensure your child is able to interact fully with the environment, and visual strategies, such as a visual time table is used to help them understand our routines.
6) What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the nursery? We work with all professionals as required for each child and always encourage these persons to come and visit the relevant children in the Setting. If required we will contact and work with Essex County. We will obtain parental consent before contact with Essex County is made and we will include parents in all decisions made and meetings held. If speech and language concerns are identified by the setting, we will advise the parents to take their child to their local doctor in the first instance for referral. We have experience of attending speech and language sessions at the Witham Health Centre and welcome speech and language therapists in to the setting. We will work with strategies from the Speech and Language therapist and include these into our individual planning for your child.
7) What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by Little peeps? Julie Etherington is the Senco at the setting. Julie Etherington, Carel Cowell and Sarah Stone all hold a level 3 qualification. The remaining staff either hold a level 2 qualification or are working towards their next qualification. We continually reflect upon our practice and will attend training when a particular need is identified. Staff at Little Peeps have experience working with speech and language difficulties, behavioral difficulties, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Autism, phelan mcdermid syndrome and retinoblastoma.
8) How will my child be included in activities outside nursery including trips? All children are welcome to attend trips. Parents are notified before trips in order to identify any particular needs. Risk assessments are completed. Volunteers to assist on the trip are requested from the children’s families. On any trips all children wear high visibility jackets and a mobile phone and first aid kit is always taken.
9) How accessible is the learning environment? (Indoors and outdoors) Little Peeps in located in a village hall. All rooms are wheel chair accessible as is access to the outdoor area. A disabled toilet is located in the foyer.
10) How will Little Peeps prepare and support my child to join the pre-school or transfer to a new setting or school? Before your child joins the Pre-School we encourage you to visit the setting several times so that you can both become acquainted with the Environment. We work closely with each family to develop a settling routine to match your child’s needs. If a child attends more than one setting or is moving to a different setting we share the child’s ‘next steps’ with that setting. We liaise with local schools to arrange visits of both the children to the schools and the Teachers to visit the children at the Pre-School to aid the transition up to new Schools. We will provide joint support with Essex County with transition to school for any child they have been involved with at the Pre-School.
11) How are nursery resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs? A dedicated budget is available to train staff. Funding can also be applied for from Essex County to support your child in our setting, if required. We also have use of the Lending Library of toys, Sensory Equipment and Topic Boxes from our Area Senco. We have excellent facilities and resources within the setting.
12) How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child receives? The Manager/Senco will work closely with you and other professionals to determine your child’s needs. We have regular Team meetings to involve all Practitioners in any support required. In addition the Key Person will be able to identify any additional support through our observation procedure. 13) How are parents involved in nursery? How can I be involved? We welcome parents into the setting whenever they are able to. We understand that many of our parents lead busy lifestyles but just popping in at the end of a session to read a story or meet with their child’s key person each half term is recommended and also loved by the children. Our weekly theme also gives an opportunity for you to bring something in or talk to us about if you wish.
14) Who can I contact for further information?
Julie Etherington
Feering Community Centre,
Coggeshall Road,
Feering,
Essex
CO5 9QB
07592814263
The purpose of a local offer is to enable parents and carers to see clearly what services are available for children with SEND in their area and how to access them. The following questions and answers forms our local offer and shows how we provide for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
1) How does Little Peeps know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs or disabilities? At Little peeps Nursery (Feering) each child has a designated key person. Their role is to develop trusting sensitive relationships with families and children to enable respectful sharing of information. If you have any concerns about your child’s development you can discuss these with our Manager Julie Etherington or your child’s key person. Reports from health care professionals, such as health visitors, speech and language therapists, will identify your child’s individual needs. We welcome parents and professionals sharing these reports in order to plan appropriately to meet these needs. Ongoing observational assessments are made of all children and are linked to the Development Matters ages and stages of development. This in some cases identifies individual needs. If your child’s key person has identified a possible individual need, they will discuss this with you, and plan with you to support your child’s learning and development. Little Peeps can seek support and advice from the Area Senco at Essex County Council with your permission.
2) How will you support my child? Before starting at Little Peeps Nursery we will invite you to a complimentary taster session. You will also be asked to attend the initial sessions with your child. This is part of our ‘Settling In’ Policy and Procedures, and is highly successful for all concerned. Parents and children can find this transition very scary and to relieve anxiety we want you to get to know us first. You and your child will relax once you have got to know us and the settings routines and boundaries. This time also helps us to build a picture and gain information about your child. We will ask you to complete a Personal Profile about your child which is in their Learning Journal; this will help us to share information about your child’s strengths and needs. At the taster session(s) you will be able to discuss with the Key Person and Manager Julie Etherington of any concerns or requirements your child may have. We will work with you to support your child together, listening to you and your child. Your child’s key person will be in the sessions your child attends, fostering a relationship with and understanding your child. We will work in partnership with you, reviewing the individual education plan (IEP) targets, and planning new ones together, and give ideas to use at home to support your child. The children will have, ‘Child Friendly Play Plans’ and targets that they can work towards.
3) How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs? We will get to know about your child before they start and through ongoing observational assessments. Targets linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage ages and stages of development will be set on IEP’s to support the learning and development of your child. This enables planning for individual needs and learning goals. In addition to the IEP, they will have a Learning Journal; this will contain written observations, photographs and samples of your child’s work to support staff in assessing and planning to help your child progress to their next steps. Your child’s key person will work to make sure that the environment, routines and activities support your child’s needs, and they will communicate with the rest of the staff to provide consistency and understanding within our team. We will ask for copies of assessments from other professionals before your child starts, and advice from our Area Senco at Essex County will be sought, if necessary, with your prior permission. Julie Etherington will monitor and analyse progress of children within the setting to address any areas of weakness. This information will be used to focus on specific areas and adapt areas that are not meeting the children’s needs. The children are involved in planning their next steps, consultations, helping with taking responsibility for their setting. The children’s Learning Styles, interests and stage of development will be recognised and used to promote achievements and development.
4) How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning? Assessment systems are in place such as the 2 year progress review, the progress wheel and continuing assessments shown in the child’s learning journey. We are a very welcoming and happy setting, with very good relationships with our families. We welcome parents and families to stay and play or read a story during our sessions. Newsletters are printed termly and given out to all parents/carers. A copy is also pinned to our notice board in the foyer. Each term you will receive a letter giving the topics/themes we will be looking at in order that parents or children can contribute to these.
5) What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being? Our practitioners are welcoming and friendly, providing an inclusive, sensitive and positive approach. They provide good role models for positive behaviour and are consistent in the day to day care of all our children. We are flexible in our routines to provide a positive environment for your child’s needs and provide personal care such as changing nappies. Personal health plans can be adopted if necessary and staff will be trained in giving the appropriate medication for your child if required. Should you child require regular prescribed medication then you will be required to complete and sign a Medication Permission form and you will be informed of the administration of the medicine and be asked to sign the form in accordance with our Administration of Medicines policy. Julie Etherington and Carel Cowell are our Designated First Aiders and oversea all medical forms. Staff are vetted and a vigorous recruitment process is in place. Julie Etherington and Carel Cowell are Safeguarding Persons, who attend regular conferences and training, Policies and Procedures are available for parents on the parent information table in the Community Centre Foyer. Activities will be adapted to ensure your child is able to interact fully with the environment, and visual strategies, such as a visual time table is used to help them understand our routines.
6) What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the nursery? We work with all professionals as required for each child and always encourage these persons to come and visit the relevant children in the Setting. If required we will contact and work with Essex County. We will obtain parental consent before contact with Essex County is made and we will include parents in all decisions made and meetings held. If speech and language concerns are identified by the setting, we will advise the parents to take their child to their local doctor in the first instance for referral. We have experience of attending speech and language sessions at the Witham Health Centre and welcome speech and language therapists in to the setting. We will work with strategies from the Speech and Language therapist and include these into our individual planning for your child.
7) What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by Little peeps? Julie Etherington is the Senco at the setting. Julie Etherington, Carel Cowell and Sarah Stone all hold a level 3 qualification. The remaining staff either hold a level 2 qualification or are working towards their next qualification. We continually reflect upon our practice and will attend training when a particular need is identified. Staff at Little Peeps have experience working with speech and language difficulties, behavioral difficulties, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Autism, phelan mcdermid syndrome and retinoblastoma.
8) How will my child be included in activities outside nursery including trips? All children are welcome to attend trips. Parents are notified before trips in order to identify any particular needs. Risk assessments are completed. Volunteers to assist on the trip are requested from the children’s families. On any trips all children wear high visibility jackets and a mobile phone and first aid kit is always taken.
9) How accessible is the learning environment? (Indoors and outdoors) Little Peeps in located in a village hall. All rooms are wheel chair accessible as is access to the outdoor area. A disabled toilet is located in the foyer.
10) How will Little Peeps prepare and support my child to join the pre-school or transfer to a new setting or school? Before your child joins the Pre-School we encourage you to visit the setting several times so that you can both become acquainted with the Environment. We work closely with each family to develop a settling routine to match your child’s needs. If a child attends more than one setting or is moving to a different setting we share the child’s ‘next steps’ with that setting. We liaise with local schools to arrange visits of both the children to the schools and the Teachers to visit the children at the Pre-School to aid the transition up to new Schools. We will provide joint support with Essex County with transition to school for any child they have been involved with at the Pre-School.
11) How are nursery resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs? A dedicated budget is available to train staff. Funding can also be applied for from Essex County to support your child in our setting, if required. We also have use of the Lending Library of toys, Sensory Equipment and Topic Boxes from our Area Senco. We have excellent facilities and resources within the setting.
12) How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child receives? The Manager/Senco will work closely with you and other professionals to determine your child’s needs. We have regular Team meetings to involve all Practitioners in any support required. In addition the Key Person will be able to identify any additional support through our observation procedure. 13) How are parents involved in nursery? How can I be involved? We welcome parents into the setting whenever they are able to. We understand that many of our parents lead busy lifestyles but just popping in at the end of a session to read a story or meet with their child’s key person each half term is recommended and also loved by the children. Our weekly theme also gives an opportunity for you to bring something in or talk to us about if you wish.
14) Who can I contact for further information?
Julie Etherington
Feering Community Centre,
Coggeshall Road,
Feering,
Essex
CO5 9QB
07592814263
