what woodlands offers
At Woodlands we welcome all children. We recognise that all children have the right to be safe and stimulated and we take our responsibilities to ensure that the children in our care are protected and treated with respect seriously. The following questions and answers aim to explain to parents what Woodlands is able to offer for a child with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
How does Woodlands Nursery know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs or disabilities?
At Woodlands we carry out ongoing observations. These observations are carried out by the child’s key worker and are linked to Development matters ages and stages of development. They may help us to pick up on any areas of concern. If there are any areas for concern they will be shared with you, Woodlands SENCo (Sally Payne) and the Managers (Moriel and Sarah Gidney).
The key workers role is to build up a relationship of trust with each individual child and their parents, sharing information about the child.
If you wish to discuss your child with the key worker, feel free to ask and you will be able to do so in private. If the key worker has picked up on a possible individual need then this too would be discussed in private with you, working together to plan for your child’s individual learning and development.
The key worker working with your child and the team around them will be able to get support and advice from the SENCo at Woodlands. Sally Payne will liaise with other professionals to seek support and advice in identifying individual needs if necessary. With your permission we can seek advice and support for your child from the Area SENCo.
Any existing reports from speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, health visitors all play a vital role in ensuring that we offer your child the best support and we welcome you sharing these with us.
How will Woodlands Nursery support my child?
At Woodlands the parents, key person and SENCo if applicable meet to discuss the strengths and needs of your child as they come into the setting. You will be able to attend the setting with your child to support them as they settle in and build a relationship with the key worker. We work closely with parents to support the child.
The ongoing observation, assessing, planning, carrying out and reviewing system, as well as listening to both the child and parents feed into any Individual Learning Provision Plan (ILPP) that we draw up. As primary carer for your child your input is greatly valued. Our SENCo will meet with you to explain how the ILPP and support from outside agencies can help us all to support both your child and your family. They will discuss with you who else may be involved in your child’s development and their role. The key worker will work with the SENCo to oversee the targets put in place in your child’s ILPP.
Your child’s key worker and the SENCo will be in the sessions that your child attends. The manager will monitor experiences and progress and the Senco will work with all staff to ensure that we provide consistent, relevant and appropriate support for your child. We will work in partnership with you, reviewing and planning the ILPP targets and offering you ideas to support your child at home. All staff members are first aid trained. Staff members have attended between them courses on Portage, Makaton and Behaviour management and would undertake any training necessary in order to support your child.
How will the curriculum meet my child’s individual needs?
We would like to get to know about your child before they start at Woodlands and as they attend the setting we will get to know them through ongoing observations both formal and informal. These observations will be used to draw up an ILPP with targets linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage ages and stages of development. This enables us to plan appropriately for your child. Evidence for helping to assess and plan for your child’s progress will also be gathered through photographs and physical evidence of what your child has done, this evidence will all be held with your child’s individual Assessment Record which you are welcome to view at any time. Communication between staff and parents is vital in order to address the needs and achieve the best care for your child. Your child’s key worker and the SENCo will work together to ensure that the activities, routine, size of group all support your child’s development. We will ask for copies of assessments from other professionals before your child starts.
Transition to another setting or to school.
We invite teachers from the local schools into the setting to meet with their new intake, enabling initial contact for the child in a safe and reassuring manner. ILPP’s and assessment records are shared with the receiving setting/school. If pre-visits to the new setting are to take place the child’s key worker/ SENCo would attend with them if requested by you. We obtain your permission to share information with the school – nothing will be shared with them without you seeing it first.
How will we know how well your child is progressing and how will we help you to support your child?
We continuously assess each individual child. Your child’s key worker is responsible for completing your child’s assessment records which are in turn overseen by the room supervisor and reviewed by the Nursery manager. Any ILPP will be drawn up in conjunction with you the SENCo and the key worker. All of these records can be seen by you at any point. We are always free for an informal chat at the start of the day or end of the day where you and we can share progress made. We are happy to carry out home visits to see your child in their own environment. Younger children have a daily diary and if requested this can be put in place for your child too. Newsletters via online media are sent out most weeks to enable you to be involved in the wider planning for the week. These are also available in hard copy if you do not have access to the internet. This planning in a more detailed format is on display in the entrance on the planning notice board. We have occasions throughout the year when we encourage as many families as possible to attend so that you are able to get to know other parents such as Bonfire night, Nativity and sponsored events.
What support do we offer for your child’s overall well-being?
Our practitioners are welcoming and friendly. We provide good role models for positive behaviour and are consistent in our approach to the care for each individual child. We provide an inclusive and enabling environment. We are flexible with our routines to best support your child’s individual needs. We provide personal care such as nappy changing.
Activities will be adapted as needed to ensure that your child is fully able to engage with the environment. Visual timelines, bells and sand timers as appropriate would be used to support your child in their understanding of the daily routine and transition times. We are able to provide a quiet area for your child to retreat to if they need time alone or an area for sleeping if they are tired. We do have a Promoting Positive Behaviour policy in place to deal with undesirable behaviour which may arise. If your child exhibits undesirable behaviour we will refer to our policy and work with you to provide a planned and consistent approach.If necessary a personal health plan can be adopted in order to support your child and any training required on the part of staff would be undertaken. If your child requires ongoing prescribed medication you will be required to complete and sign a medication permission form as stated in our Medication Policy. You will also be informed at the end your child’s visit with regards to the timing of medication being taken and required to sign to acknowledge this.
What specialist services and expertise are available at/or accessed by the setting?
All of our staff at present are trained to level 2 minimum and are experienced within the early years age range. With your consent we are able to contact the Area SENCo who would be able to support our SENCo. If your child’s needs are identified as a specific need then the team with expertise in this area will take up the support for the child and the setting in order to meet the child’s needs. The child/ family can access a number of services within the county such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and the child development centre. There is also a children’s centre within the close vicinity of the setting.
How will I be involved in discussions about and planning for my child’s education?
Parents are involved from the outset, from the initial visits to register your child as wishing to attend. Your child’s strengths, needs, likes and dislikes are discussed there and then and an ‘All About Me’ form completed by the key person. On a daily basis we invite you to share information with us about our child’s individual needs and any agencies that may be involved. As primary carer your knowledge of your child is vital and partnership with you is sought at every point. We share your child’s learning journeys with you and you are encouraged to contribute to these too.
What training have the staff (supporting children with SEND) had or are expected to have?
The setting SENCo has completed the new to SENCo training. They also attend SENCo Forum meetings in order to keep their knowledge and understanding up to date as well as utilising online resources. Some staff have attended behaviour management, Portage and Makaton training.
How will my child be included in experiences away from the setting?
Off site activities are planned around all children’s individual needs and abilities. Risk assessments are carried out beforehand to ensure that it is accessible for all to take part.
How accessible is the setting environment?
We aim to make the setting as accessible as we possibly can, this includes:
- Accessible toilets.
- Up to date policies and procedures.
- Advice and support from the area SENCO where necessary.
How are the setting’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
- There is funding available for eligible two year olds which you can apply for, giving 15 free hours per week during term time. This is dependent upon family income and circumstances.
- We are able to adapt existing resources to suit your child as far as possible.
- We would strive to obtain any resources necessary to enable your child to achieve their targets.
How is the decision made about how much support my child will receive?
Decisions about how much support your child will receive is monitored through observations carried out by your child’s key person within Woodlands. This is then discussed with parents, Woodlands manager and the SENCo. These observations and assessments linked to the EYFS and a knowledge of child development will be used to help us identify the type of support needed. Extra support will be put in place as necessary but the ultimate goal would be to allow your child to operate as independently as possible within the nursery setting. Ongoing partnership between parents/ setting and any other agency involved would support the decision making process.
