SEND
Local Offer

Local Offer for Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)

  • We have an embedded system to ensure that a key person is allocated to every child. The key person completes regular observations that are then used to inform the child’s planning around their individual needs and interests. The key person also completes assessments on every child to identify any support that may be required. These assessments are shared with the parents who are encouraged to add their comments. We then implement a joint approach.

    When a child initially starts at the nursery, we provide settling in sessions where the key person familiarises themselves with the child’s individual needs, interests and abilities. At these sessions, parents can identify any needs the child has with the key person so that these can be catered for. The parents complete an ‘All About Me’ form at the settling in session to identify any concerns.

  • The nursery’s Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator (SENCO) has been trained through the local authority to support the key person, child and their family to make sure that the child’s individual needs are met.

    We have robust policies and procedures in place that are reviewed regularly to ensure that our resources and environments are suitable and accessible for all. The SENCO works closely with the key person to differentiate resources, experiences and activities to support the child and to devise a personal plan for each individual child based around their abilities and interests.

    The SENCO liaises with other professionals (with the parents’ consent) such as Early Years Inclusion Officers, Speech and Language Therapists, and Health Visitors, to gain further advice in supporting each child. The SENCO and the key person work collaboratively to ensure that the targets and strategies are implemented.

    The plans and activities are reviewed by the key person, the SENCO and parents regularly to keep them up-to-date and to ensure support provision for all children.

  • Parents’ communication is valued and the key person works together with parents to ensure that every child’s learning is supported.

    At the initial settling in sessions the parents/carers work with the key person to settle the child into the nursery. The key person completes the information sheet to understand the child’s individual routines, needs, interests and abilities. Parents are encouraged to complete observations and activities at home, and to keep the key person informed of any new interests so that these can be incorporated into the activities that are planned for the child.

    The parents are invited to attend regular meetings to review the child’s progress.

    Every child has their own learning journal that parents can view at any time and they are actively encouraged to add their views and comments.

Helping with transitions

Transitions are an important time for any child and the key person makes sure that they are well planned and supported.

When a child first starts at the nursery the key person works with the parent to devise appropriate times for the child to settle in at their own pace.

When a child transitions to another room during their time at the nursery, the key person works with the new key person to relay and hand over relevant information for that child.

The child will have a range of settling in sessions in the next room to support a successful transition. The new key person ensures that the child’s interests and needs are catered for and that the child is well adjusted to their new room and to new peers.

When a child is ready to transition to school, the teacher will be invited in to meet the key person and to make sure that all relevant transition supporting documents are completed and relayed to the school, ensuring a smooth transition takes place for the child.