SEND
Apply NowSpecial Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Our Local Offer
The SEND Policy is a key document to support the finest inclusive practice in our Nursery.
It outlines our statutory responsibilities and approaches to ensure that all children including those with SEND, can achieve their best possible learning outcomes and engage successfully in all aspects of the wider Nursery community.
It complies with current statutory requirements and guidance set out in relevant legislation and documents.
Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) takes overall responsibility for the operation of this Policy and for co-ordinating specific provision for children receiving SEND support. Our SENCO also contributes to the strategic development of SEND Provision.
We believe that the purpose of education for all children is the same………..but the individual help children may need will be different.
The Nursery will work with the parents and child to ensure they are fully involved with all aspects of SEND support
Learning and Development
At Shenfield Day Nursery we take very seriously our responsibility to all children’s learning and development. Our emergent and flexible curriculum offers support to each child as they move through the nursery, supported by caring and responsive practitioners.
Our Responsibilities
We recognise our responsibility to work with children at differing ages and stages of development and to offer each child experiences and activities that will be tailored to meet their specific needs, always seeking to offer a stimulating environment both indoors, in our garden area and in the local area around the nursery.
Key Personnel
On entry each child is allocated a key person, whose responsibility is to get to know each child, to plan activities that will support strong learning and development and to document evidence of learning to ensure each child makes progress in learning. Parents are offered time and space to get to know the key staff and raise any concerns about development.
Assessments
Regular assessments to ensure progress is maintained are undertaken and these may bring to light concerns about an aspect of development.
What do we do when concerns have been identified?
Key staff will meet regularly with parents and offer feedback about progress in all areas of learning. Where concerns are raised by key staff or parents this will be discussed and a plan put in place to offer extra support for the child in the key areas, thus ensuring a cohesive approach between parents and nursery. Individual plans for children are reviewed regularly with parents to ensure a cohesive approach is maintained as well as amendments and updates made as children progress and develop.
Key staff will be supported in their role by the nursery Special Needs Coordinator (SENCo), to ensure that extra support offered is pertinent and consistent.
Regular reviews of policy and practice are undertaken by the senior management team working with key staff to ensure that our learning environment and curriculum is responsive to and respectful of each child’s needs and interests and adaptations made wherever possible. All resources, activities and learning experiences are differentiated for each child so that all have equal access.
When dealing with any Special Education Needs Disabilities or related matters, all staff always adhere to our nursery policies of respect for strict confidentiality.
What extra support will be offered?
The SENCo will liaise with outside professionals such as health visitor or speech and language therapist, with parental permission, where necessary in order that maximum support is offered. Key staff and parents, in conjunction with the setting SENCo will assess the impact of extra support offered and update plans regularly.
At all times parents will be at the heart of our provision for children as we recognise that they are the experts on their child and their invaluable knowledge and input will be sought throughout their child’s time with us.
Where there are needs that cannot be met by the usual Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support at the nursery, or where needs have been identified by other agencies, an Education and Health Care Plan will be completed by the local authority. A local authority should conduct an EHCP needs assessment for children under compulsory school age when the special educational provision required to meet the child’s needs cannot reasonably be provided from the resources normally available to the early education provider or school, or when it is likely the child will need an EHCP in school.
Transitions
At Shenfield Day Nursery we recognise that transitions are pivotal in encouraging children to feel safe and settled and we will work hard with parents to ensure that the settling period is sufficiently long and responsive to both parents and child. As children move through the nursery, they will be offered settling visits with their current key person and parents will be offered meetings with the new key person during this initial time.
When your child has a confirmed place at school, we will liaise with the school to share information to ensure that their new teacher knows all about your child and how they learn. This may be done by teachers visiting the setting, telephone calls, and emails.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators:
Sarah
Sarah joined the company at our Upminster setting in 2018, she became deputy manager at Shenfield in January 2023, she has built strong relationships with the staff, children and parents. Sarah’s role as SENCo is to provide support and guidance for parents, children and staff concerning Special Educational Needs.
Sarah may also liaise with outside agencies if appropriate, and only with parents’ consent, unless concerning a child protection issue. Sarah also provides all staff with in-house training as necessary.
Tammy
Tammy has been at the nursery since 2008 and has a keen interest in Special Educational Needs and disabilities. Tammy works with Sarah in a supporting SEN co-ordinator role.
If you require any further information regarding Special Educational Needs or wish to discuss a concern in more detail, please contact the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator or the Nursery Manager.