SEND
The Children’s House has a dedicated Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo) and a SENDCo trained Nursery Manager. They work closely with children’s Keyworkers in the identification and support of children with additional needs.
How does nursery know if a child needs extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs? How do you identify children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?
Each child has a key person whose role it is to develop a close working relationship with the parents. If a parent has any concerns about their child’s development this information should be shared with the key person. The key person will be responsible for regular observations and assessments that link to the development matters age and stages of development.
If the key person has identified a possible individual need, this will be discussed with you and together you can plan how best to support the child. The nursery SENDCO (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Co-Ordinator) may be asked for advice in order to support the key person and your child. The SENDCO may also liaise with other professionals, with your permission, such as the Area SENDCO, the Speech and Language Therapist or the Health Visitor. This advice might involve meetings and reports in order to enable the key person to plan for the individual needs of your child.
How will nursery staff support my child? How will you oversee and plan the education that my child will participate in? Who else will be involved with my child and what will their role be?
We offer an in-depth settling in period. At this time you will meet with your child’s key person and spend time sharing information in order for us to provide informed support. The child’s well-being is central to everything we offer and the settling in period will be tailored to the child’s individual needs. Parents are welcome to spend time at the nursery during the settling in period and familiarise themselves with the staff and, in particular, the key person. These early days will provide the foundation for a trusting and strong relationship between the whole family and the key person. Your key person will be responsible for the day to day care of your child and for the observations and assessments that help to inform us of your child’s current stage of development and of their next steps in learning. You are able to contribute to these recordings so that we have a complete record of your child.
Your child’s development will be regularly evaluated and the nursery SENDCO may be asked for advice if this is felt necessary in order to plan appropriately for your child’s individual needs. As parents, you will always be included in planning for your child’s needs.
How will nursery prepare and support my child to join the setting, transfer to a new setting or the next stage of education and life? What preparation will there be for both the setting and my child before he or she joins the setting?
The first settling in visit will provide an opportunity to meet your child’s key person and to start talking about your child’s interests and care requirements. You will also be asked to complete a record detailing your child’s starting points. This will provide the key person with an indication of your child’s stage of development and is a foundation for future planning. It is recommended that the first and second visits are opportunities for your child and yourself to get to know the setting and the staff who will be responsible for your child. If your child feels quite settled, it may be appropriate for you to leave your child for a short period of 2-3 hours but the duration should be discussed with the key person so that everyone feels confident.
The nursery will provide you with a settling in booklet that you can discuss with your child at home. This contains information about the daily routines and information about the nursery. If your child, has a favourite comforter, name or way of sleeping, for example, it is important that you share this information with the key person as this will aid the settling in process and ensure continuity of care. If your child is going to need some additional support, we will arrange for you to meet with other care professionals or to arrange appropriate staff training.
Transition to another setting or to school:
With your permission, your child’s Learning Journal (a record of their observations and assessments during their time at nursery) will be shared with the new setting. If possible, we will meet with the key person at the new setting or contact them to share relevant information. We will visit the new setting, if possible, to advise on any adaptations to provision or routine and to meet the key person/class teacher. The new key person/class teacher will be invited to meet the child at nursery if this is possible.
Who will be my first point of contact if I want to discuss something about my child? Who else has a role in my child’s education?
Your child’s key person is your first line of contact, who will be supported by the Nursery Manager or SENDCO. There is a staff board in the entrance to the nursery and staff photos on the website. Your child’s key person, together with the SENDCO will be able to signpost you to care professionals who can offer support and advice. We can also make a referral for specialist help with your permission.
Information can also be obtained from your Health Visitor, Children’s Centre, the Family Information Services and the Local Education Authority website.
What are the responsibilities of the nursery leadership team in enabling and supporting inclusive practice? How are they involved?
The leadership team are responsible for all the practices and policies relating to inclusion, i.e. that they are current and fully implemented. We will ensure that the staff team have access to training. We provide an environment that is enabling for all children and is stimulating and nurturing. We will make suitable changes where possible. We aim to create a positive environment that values and respects each child and we welcome families to be part of the nursery and share in their children’s learning. We encourage our staff to have regular, honest and meaningful communications with parents and to share information, with external agencies, if it is in the child’s best interests.
How will I know my child is progressing? What opportunities will there by for me to discuss my child’s progress with his/her key person?
There are opportunities on a daily basis for discussion with your child’s key person. Each child has a Learning Journal. This contains observations, photos and assessments. You may look at this whenever you wish, take it home, share with your child or contribute to with your own observations and comments. There are also parent’s evenings twice a year that give you the opportunity to complete a form with the key person with any additional information relating to interests, needs or next steps. The parent’s evening provides an opportunity to look at your child’s progress in line with the ages/stages of development linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage. For children who are 2, there is the 2 year old progress check that will be completed by the key person, the parent and the Health Visitor and may form the basis for early intervention if particular concerns have been identified. The key person will regularly review your child’s progress and development and will share this information with you. If your child has a plan (?) as a result of an identified need, this will be shared and reviewed with you to ensure that we are meeting the targets and planning for your child’s next steps. There may be reports from other professionals involved in your child’s care. A meeting might be arranged if there is a lot of information to be discussed and/or other professionals are involved.
Parents play a vital part in nursery life and there are many opportunities to become involved such as helping on trips, sharing skills or interests, family events days or fundraising activities for local charities. We use our website to illustrate the variety of activities that the children participate in and to inform parents of upcoming events, as well as our noticeboard, magazine and social media.
What support will there be for my child’s physical and emotional well-being? What support is available at nursery for children with SEND?
We offer an individual settling in period, that may include a home visit so that the child and family can become confident with the nursery and form a strong attachment with the key person. Parents will be provided with relevant information about the nursery and will share information with the key person to ensure that the child’s individual needs are met. All staff act as positive role models and promote inclusive practice.
Each child will be matched with a key person to ensure continuity of care and to form a strong working partnership with parents. The key person, through their knowledge of your child, will plan for their individual needs and interests in line with their stage of development and will liaise with the SENDCO and Area SENDCO if support is required. The key person will ensure that the resources are accessible and available and that they are positive and caring role models.
Staff are trained to administer medicines and relevant documentation is maintained. There are nursery policies to cover sickness and the administration of medication, as well as healthy eating and the key person approach. The key person will be responsible for your child’s personal care needs which includes nappy changing and overseeing their rest periods and eating.
What specialist services and expertise are available or accessed at nursery?
All staff are qualified to the equivalent of Level 3 in Childcare and Education as a minimum and most exceed this. All staff have access to a variety of training linked to child development and may have experience of specialist training such as Makaton, SENCO training, Paediatric First Aid, speech and language and some may have had training in caring for children with specific medical or dietary needs.
We work closely with the Local Authority advisory teachers and Area SENDCO, the children’s centres and with other local external agencies such as Speech and Language and can signpost parents or make a referral with your permission.
The nursery has policies with regard to equality and diversity and behaviour management and staff attend relevant training.
How will nursery help me to support my child’s learning? How will you explain how learning is planned and how I can help support this outside of the setting?
There are noticeboards and an leaflet display in reception that have information with regard to the Early Years Foundation Stage, your child’s learning and items of particular interest, for example how to access the Early Years Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds, the members of staff with areas of responsibility, the complaints procedure, the details of the local children’s centre.
There are boards used for displaying planning and your child’s key person can explain to you how the cycle of observation, planning and review operates and what this means for your child. Your key person will be able to tell you how we plan for your child’s next steps and it is important that we use the information that you provide us with to ensure that your child’s needs and interests are fully met. Much of the day will be spent observing and talking and listening to your child to ensure that the planning reflects those needs and interests. The management team oversees and monitors the planning to ensure that all areas of learning are covered and that your child is receiving a broad and balanced curriculum in order to make progress in his/her learning and development. There are opportunities for parents to continue this learning at home and your key person can provide examples of everyday activities that can help to support this learning.
If we have identified that your child has a particular need we will support you and them in accessing advice and guidance so that we can plan appropriately in order for them to reach their full potential.
If additional advice or expertise is felt necessary, we will ask for your input and your permission if we feel a referral would be beneficial. At all times we will share information with you and keep you informed. If you have any concerns we would like you to share these with us so that we can ensure that your child receives the best possible outcomes in their learning and development.
SEND Local Offer
Find local information, events and training, and regular updates relating to SEND on the Council’s SEND Local Offer website.
NELC SEND Local Offer | Home (nelincs.gov.uk)
NELC Council’s SEND parent carer Newsletter
The Local Authority’s SEND Team compile regular updates about SEND in their newsletter that goes out weekly during term time.
NELC SEND Local Offer | SEND Newsletter (nelincs.gov.uk)
SENDIASS
SENDIASS North East Lincolnshire is a free service for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents and carers. It’s impartial and we give confidential information, advice and support in relation to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and related health and social care matters.
Learn more about how SENDIASS can help you. SENDIASS – NELC (nelsendiass.org.uk)
NELPCF
The North East Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum is a collective group of parents passionate about driving positive change. Their aim is to be a true representation of the voices of parent carers of children with additional needs and disabilities. We strive to have a positive impact on the planning and provision of services and decision making for the families of North East Lincolnshire- now, and in the future.
Get involved with NELPCF’s activities: