Our SEND Local offer
How does the nursery know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child has special educational needs?
All staff at Claverham Day Nursery hold appropriate childcare qualifications and have a good sound knowledge of child development. Your child will be allocated a keyworker who they are able to build up a good relationship with. Through this system we pride ourselves on our strong parent partnership and find that we are able to talk freely with our parents about any concerns they may have regarding their child’s development.
We use a online learning journey to collate evidence about your child’s time with us at nursery. We will observe your child’s activities and, through these observations, staff are able to build up a picture of your child’s interests and needs.
How will the nursery support my child with special educational needs?
You will work closely with your child’s keyworker who will be supported by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to ensure that your child’s needs are being fully met. Your child will have their own Setting Based Support Plan (SBSP) and iSEND support depending on their specific needs.
Regular progress meetings and transition meetings are held to review your child’s progress and next steps are discussed with parents, keyworkers and SENCO. We work alongside other professionals and jointly agree targets for the SBSP.
How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
We try and match our resources with a child’s individual needs to enable them to join in and have a sense of achievement in completing the activity. Some families will qualify for additional funding which enables the nursery to purchase specialist equipment to support your child’s additional needs.
Sometimes the professionals that work alongside the nursery will supply additional specialist resources for us and out families to use.
Nursery Manager will complete relevant forms and submit these to ISEND that may enable your child to receive extra support.
This programme will be led by a member of staff.
A meeting with you will be arranged and the needs of your child would be discussed with you in confidence. If parents are in agreement, the Nursery Manager will complete relevant forms and submit these to iSEND that may enable your child to receive extra support. If your child does not need extra support, individual support sessions in a quieter environment in the nursery will be used, such as during speech and language time. This programme will be led by the SENCO and undertaken by your child’s keyworker.
How will the nursery review my child’s progress and how shall they share it with me?
We use a parent / nursery contact book system that you can write in to communicate with us, and similarly we can write to you regarding relevant information. We may sometimes ask you to help us at home with some of the activities that we do at nursery, to support your child’s learning. Outside professionals sometimes provide relevant resources for us to work with in nursery. Verbal contact takes place on a daily basis, you will also receive regular reports on your child’s progress. Additional meetings are always available by request; please email or telephone to arrange.
We have a six week settling in meeting for new starters. In the summer term before school we complete a transition document which goes to the child chosen school.
SEND additional – The SBSP is reviewed termly to support the next terms funding application.
We have a closed Facebook page that our SEND parents can join. This provides support and understanding to each other. Makaton training and other courses are often available for parents whose children have speech and language difficulties.
What support will there be for my child’s overall well being?
All staff are trained Early Years Practitioners. We provide warm, caring and nurturing child care, creating a friendly and stimulating learning environment tailored to the individual. Staff are paediatric first aid trained and should any specialist medication need to be administered, the relevant staff would attend training, to ensure appropriate support. We want all our children to feel that they are a valued part of our nursery community.
Support for well being:
| Pastoral | Designated keyworker / INA |
| Medical | All staff hold a paediatric first aid certificate |
| Social | Designated keyworker / INA Small group work |
| Behaviour | behaviour management policy and risk assessment policy |
What training do the staff have in supporting children with special educational needs or disabilities?
Our SENCO attends Inclusion Support Group meetings on a regular basis to update her knowledge. Staff are encouraged to attend any relevant training to support their role as a keyworker and information gained from these training courses is shared with the rest of the team at the next staff meeting.
The SENCO and the manager will work closely with relevant professionals and cascade the knowledge to other people in the setting.
What specialist services and support are available to the nursery?
Our SENCO attends regular training and update sessions to further her knowledge and experience. Some of our staff have a good knowledge of Makaton. We have good links with professionals who visit the nursery and are able to advise in their specific area.
How will my child be included in activities outside the nursery, including trips?
We aim to provide each child with the opportunity to access all that the nursery has to offer. If needed, an individual needs assistant (INA) will support your child. We have extensive grounds that we can use for outdoor learning. When relevant a risk assessment may be completed on your child to ensure they remain safe at all times.
How accessible is the nursery?
The ground floor of the nursery is wheelchair accessible. We have a dedicated disabled parking space for parents of additional needs children. All furniture and equipment is at the child’s level and toys and resources are easily accessible to all of our children.
We have clearly labelled boxes using photos and text. This enables our children who have little or no language skills to tell us what they want. Every room has a visual timetable if needed, photos and text labelling all at the child’s level. Additional resources will be made up for individual child’s needs. At present we do not have a hearing loop but would apply for funding if required.
We have a separate nappy changing area and toilet facilities. The cubicles are large enough to have grab handles fitted if needed. The end cubicle could be fitted out to accommodate a child with additional needs with hand rails and seat. We ensure that we provide a fully inclusive service for parents/carers and their families. We welcome and value the cultural, linguistic and educational experiences that children with English as an additional language bring to the nursery.
How will the nursery help my child move on to school?
There will be a very small minority of children who will be lifelong service users and will need an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place prior to their school start, to ensure their needs are fully met in specialist provision. It is important that these children are identified early and planned for.
Any child who is going to school in September and is working no higher than ’emerging’ in the 8-20 month level in 2 Prime Areas of Development can request an EHC Needs Assessment.
If the parents decide to apply for an EHCP then a decision will be made as to whether the nursery or family start the process. Regular meeting and discussions will be held between the nursery and the parents.
A decision will be made by the Local Authority if an EHCP is granted.
Other children who are not granted an EHCP will attend a mainstream school with possible various degrees of additional support.
The keyworker/SENCO will have completed a transition document and a meeting will be arranged to discuss your child’s needs at school. There will be a meeting at the receiving school with the parent/s, SENCO, manager, ISEND and any other professional involved with the child. The receiving school will visit your child at nursery to get to know them a little and will encourage your child to visit the school to familiarise them with their new environment.
Give us your views about this information
Contact localoffer@eastsussex.gov.uk or call Information for Families 0345 60 80 192
More information, advice and support
The local offer – what is available for children with special educational needs in East Sussex
eastsussex.gov.uk/localoffer
East Sussex 1Space
Information for Families (including SEND and disability advice service)
Phone: 03456 080192
Text: 07797 870317
email: informationforfamilies@eastsussex.gov.uk
eastsussex.gov.uk/informationforfamilies