Over the Moon

Early Years Local Offer Response

How does the setting know if a child will need extra help and what should families do if they think their child may have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

At our setting we treat every child as an individual. Your child will be allocated a key person who will be responsible for your child’s development. Through the use of observations and planning for their next steps we are able to identify any concerns which we will share with you, and with consent we will contact other professionals if required. If you have any concerns about your child you should speak with your child’s key person who will be able to advise you further.

How will staff in the setting support a child with SEND?

We have high adult child ratios ensuring all children receive the individual support that they require. We have a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) who attends regular training and children are monitored both individually and as a group. Your child’s key person will work with both you and your child. This relationship will ensure that we share knowledge concerning your child and their development. Through continual observations we can plan for your child including accessing additional support from other professionals as appropriate. We will implement strategies and advice offered as appropriate.

How will the curriculum for the setting be matched to a child with SEND's needs?

Every child is viewed as ‘unique’ therefore we plan for your child’s development based on observations of your child and evidence gained for their Learning Journal. The environment your child plays in will be appropriate for their needs and additional support or resources will be supplied as appropriate

How will staff work with families about how a child with SEND is doing and how to support a child's learning?

We have an open door policy and you are welcome to speak to us at any time about your child’s development. Our learning journals provide us with a monitoring tool that enables us to identify any additional support required. Our highly qualified staff team ensures children’s needs are quickly identified and supported, this in turn is cascaded to parents.

What support does the setting offer for a child with SEND's overall well-being?

We offer ‘settling in’ sessions which will familiarise your child with the setting and also enable support for your child to be discussed before they commence nursery. We have detailed policies and procedures in place that ensure your child’s well being with clear policies for the administration of medication, and for providing personal care. If additional training is required to administer medicine we will undertake this as necessary. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive provision ensuring children with behavioural difficulties are supported and included in the setting. Through close relationships with the children and their key workers we ensure all children feel valued and supported. Staff receive regular training to ensure a consistent approach is given to all children.

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

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 the Buckinghamshire Learning Trust Early Years Service. We will obtain parental consent before contact 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 the Speech and Language screening sessions. We work with Speech and Language therapists and the reports they provide to support the children in their language development

What training have the staff supporting children with SEND had or are having?

The staff continually receive and refresh their training. All staff are qualified within Early Years or are currently studying for qualifications. Staff have attended a wide range of training courses including promoting positive behaviour, English as additional language; let’s get talking and Early Years SENCO Liaison Group meetings. We continually reflect upon our practice and will attend training when a particular need is identified.

How will a child with SEND be included in activities outside the setting?

All children are welcome to attend trips. Parents are made aware during the welcome meeting of any trips that the setting could potentially undertake in order to identify any particular needs.  Risk assessments are completed. More than adequate staff ratios are observed. On any trips all children are very closely monitored and a mobile phone and first aid kit is always taken.

How accessible is the setting's environment (indoors and outdoors)

We will work closely with all parents to access any specialist equipment that may be required. The main room is fully accessible by wheel chair and the outdoor area is flat. The hall has an accessible toilet. Visual timetables are used to assist children with the daily routine. Dual language books are shared with families of children with English as Additional Language to aid communication.

How will the staff prepare and support a child with SEND to join the setting or transfer to a new setting/school?

When children join we offer a flexible settling in policy. All children are initially invited to visit the setting to familiarise themselves with the environment and their key worker. When the child starts with us, their needs are monitored on a daily basis with parents being regularly informed via text or phone calls to ensure they are involved in any decisions made until the child has settled. We have close links with the local schools to ensure smooth transitions, this includes visits by the local teachers to our setting. Group and individual transition meetings are arranged as required. The schools provide us with books providing photos of the classroom to facilitate discussions. Our setting also completes a school leaver progress check which is a document that gives an in depth insight into each child's development. This is shared with the school to aid transition.

How are the setting's resources allocated and matched to a child's Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?

All children’s individual needs are closely monitored and where additional equipment is required this is purchased. Where necessary we will try to access additional funding to provide specialist equipment. We regularly review all our equipment to ensure it supports the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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

The Manager and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) will work closely with you and other professionals  to access advice as well as to determine your child’s needs through ongoing detailed assessments. We have regular team meetings so that all practitioners have an understanding of your child’s needs and all individual plans are reviewed regularly and monitored closely. In addition the Key Person will be able to identify any additional support through the observation procedure required by the Early Years Foundation Stage and individual plans will be made as necessary.

How are parents involved at the setting?

We have an open door policy and promote and value all parents views and opinions. We carry out annual parent questionnaires asking for feedback on our provision. We encourage parents to email or phone us directly if they have any comments or concerns. We encourage ongoing dialogue with their child’s key worker. We produce a newsletter monthly and communicate through daily journals which we encourage parents to take away and return to keep communication channels open at all times.

What future plans does your setting have for developing its SEND provision for example, training, facilities?

Our staff training is always ongoing and we will continue this in order to provide to all educational needs.

Which other Local Authorities/ Counties/ health providers do you have contracts with?

We work with all local agencies