Where children have fun, learning

South Gloucestershire SEND Local Offer

How do you identify if a child needs extra help with their learning?

Monitoring of individual children’s progress throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage is essential. Where a child appears not to be making progress then it may be necessary to use alternative approaches to learning. Ongoing difficulties may indicate the need for support above that which is normally available for children in the setting.

Each child has their own individualised record of development in place and through regular effective observation and assessment and liaison with parents Key Persons are able to identify where children are progressing as they should or where there may be areas of concern. Once a possible concern has been identified the Key Person will consult with the setting's Special Educational Need’s Coordinator (SENCO) and the child’s parents. We will conduct focused observations to identify if additional support may be required.

The 2 year progress check is key in identifying where early intervention may be required and this will be shared with parents and health visitors as necessary in seeking any additional support required.

What is the setting’s approach to supporting different children’s needs and how will that help my child?

All children have a fully individualised learning programme in place, which is identified through individual ages, stage of development, their interests and current abilities. Ensuring each individual child’s needs are met through well planned activities. Each child has their own ‘next steps’ in place within each of the areas of learning and development – these are shared with parents and the Key Person plan activities and learning experiences to support each child to make progress towards their next steps.

How will I be able to raise any concerns I may have regarding my child’s development?

Each term we complete individual and cohort trackers so we can clearly identify where children are making adequate progress, as well as highlighting any areas of concern which then allow for Key Persons to plan specifically for areas where children may not be progressing as well as expected.

How will Early Years practitioners support my child and how will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

Who will oversee and plan for my child’s learning?

Your child will be allocated a Key Person who will be responsible for all planning, observation and assessment of your child’s learning. This is overseen by the Team Leader for your child’s room and also by the Nursery Manager.

Who will be working with my child and what will be their roles?

Your child will be allocated a Key Person upon starting with us and all staff deployed to your child’s room will also be working with your child. The setting's SENCo will work with your child too.

Who will explain this to me?

The staff organisation of your child’s base room and the nursery as a whole will be explained to you on your first settling-in visit with us. This meeting is led by your child’s Key Person. You will have the opportunity to meet with our SENCo who will explain their role and part in your child’s learning and development.

What is the settings approach to supporting different children’s needs and how will that help my child? (differentiation)

All children are valued as individuals.
The class/room team is responsible for planning activities and experiences and all play and learning is based on building on what your child already knows, can do and can understand.
The Key Person will continually assess your child’s learning, plan to meet possible needs that they identify and support them to make the best possible progress.
If a child should make limited progress, their Key Person will raise concerns with both the child’s parent and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). The Key Person will plan specific activities to support your child, whilst continuing to work with you as the parent/carer and the SENCO.
Specific group/individual activities could be planned by a teacher or practitioner. For example, an adult playing alongside your child as your child plays using specific strategies, such as developing turn taking skills.
Support from outside professionals could be sought. For example: an Early Years Portage and Inclusion Specialist, a Speech and Language Therapist, Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist or Paediatrician. Specific, targeted strategies that reflect the advice given from an appropriate professional can then be used. These strategies may be carried out in a 1:1 situation, playing alongside your child or in a planned small group.
If your child has been supported as described above and has been identified as having a specific special educational need, we would discuss the development of a Support Plan (Non Statutory Education, Health and Care Plan) with you. The whole team supporting your child will be part of this.

For children aged 3 and 4 years and accessing their funded entitlement with us (FEEE) for either the Universal 15 hours or Extended 30 hours and who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance we can claim an annual payment of £615 from the Disability Access Fund (DAF). This money will be spent in consultation with parents at how best to use it to meet the needs of the child in minimising any barriers to care, education or learning.

How will I know if my child is making progress in their learning?

Through regular consultation with your child’s Key Person. Parents are welcome to and encouraged to contribute to their child’s record of development. The EyLog show where each child is currently at – their planned next steps and what would be deemed as what would be expected for each age / stage of development.

All children have annual parent consultations. The staff team discuss their child’s progress with parents/carers. Parents/carers are also invited to share their views on progress and raise any concerns they may have regarding progress and milestones.

If your child has a Support Plan (Non Statutory Education, Health and Care Plan) this will be reviewed three times a year. The progress children are making is compared to the targets set out in the plan. The targets are set by all the people, including professionals that work with the child.

What opportunities will there be for me to discuss his or her progress with the staff?

Settling in sessions
Termly assessments
Review at completion of 2 year progress check
Reviews with key person
Parent evenings
Use of monthly feedback sheets
WOW moments
Opportunities to contribute to your child’s record of development

How does the setting know how well my child is doing?

Through ongoing observation and assessment. Each term an assessment is completed and shared with parents to detail what learning / progress has occurred within each area of learning throughout the previous term. From this next steps are identified within each area of learning and development which then form the basis of the next month’s planning for your child.

Each term we complete individual and cohort trackers so we can clearly identify where children are making adequate progress as well as highlighting any areas of concern which then allow for Key Persons to plan specifically for areas where children may not be progressing as well as expected.

How will I know what progress my child should be making?

What opportunities will there be for regular contact about things that have happened at the setting, such as a home/setting link book

Daily feedback sheets
Verbal daily information exchange at collection
Diaries / link books are used if deemed necessary or requested for by the parent where there may be a need to do so
Regular communication through EyLog

How will you explain to me how his or her learning is planned and how I can help support this outside of the setting?

During our settling in process we will explain all of our planning processes to you. You are welcome to take away your child’s record of development to look through and to contribute to.

We welcome regular feedback from you such as any learning / progress made at home and any current interests all of which will be incorporated into planning.

We send home monthly theme bubbles outlining activities that your child will be invited to participate in whilst at nursery as well as parent feedback sheets to welcome your suggestions for activities in the nursery. We also send home monthly newsletters detailing what we are doing in the nursery and learning that is being encouraged and promoted.

We have home links boards in operation providing suggestions on how you can extend children’s learning at home from what they have been doing at nursery and all of our planning is on display in each room for you to look at.

Key Persons are always happy to discuss any area of your child’s learning and development.

How and when will I be involved in planning my child’s education?

At any time! We welcome and encourage your contributions. To facilitate this we have introduced parent feedback sheets.

We also consult with you at the end of each term when reviewing progress, completing assessments and devising next steps for the coming term.

Do you offer any parent training or learning events?

We send home regular questionnaires as well as operating a comments and suggestions box. If you would like any such event please use these methods or speak with your child’s Key Person or the Nursery Manager who will look to facilitate them.

What support will there be for my child’s/young person’s overall wellbeing?

What medical and social support is available in the setting for children with SEN and disabilities?

Our SENCO will work closely with the child and parents as well as any other agencies involved with the child and any identified additional support will be facilitated according to the needs of the child.

Any training for staff regarding administration of medicines that may be required will be facilitated and we have robust procedures in place for the administration of medication.

How does the setting manage the administration of medicines and providing personal care?

We have a robust administration of medication policy in place, ensuring qualified staff are responsible for the administration of all medication. Any specialist training required to administer medicine will be sought. The child’s Key Person is, where possible, responsible for personal care of all children, but where this is not possible we operate as a key group ensuring that all staff within each room know each child really well ensuring all children are safe and secure with all adults responsible for personal care of each child.

What support is there for my child’s personal, social and emotional development?

With personal, social and emotional development being one of the three prime areas of learning and development lots of emphasis is placed on this within the setting and it is established through all of our daily routines and learning experiences. Some examples include:

1:1 activities with the child’s key person and or SENCO
Small group activities
Teaching of sensations, feelings and emotions
Supporting each child to develop a continuing sense of self
Teaching children to regulate their feelings and emotions
Practitioners embody and role model desired behaviours.

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

Are there practitioners at the setting with previous experience of supporting children with SEN and do they have relevant training/ qualifications?

Our staff team is made up of 50% trained to a minimum of level 3 in early years. We also have level 2 staff who are working towards the level 3 qualification through a nationally recognised training body. Our apprentice staff are all currently working towards this qualification. We have SENCOs in post; often this is the Nursery Manager, who is responsible for supporting all staff and overseeing all children’s learning, development and progress.

All our nursery SENCos have attended South Gloucestershire Council SENCo training and are supported by Area Managers. In addition to this we offer a comprehensive training programme for all staff and many staff have attended training in specific areas such as behaviour, inclusion, equality and diversity. All training attended is cascaded to the full staff team.

Any additional training required to further support individual children and meet their needs will be sought.

What other services does the setting access, including health, therapy and social care services?

If through consultation with the child’s parents (the child themselves if appropriate) and the SENCO, we conclude that a child may need further support to help them progress, all known knowledge of the child will be collated and if not previously sought, the support of multi agency professionals will be implemented with parental consent to best meet the needs of the child.

What training have the staff supporting children with SEN and disabilities had or are having?

Can you include recent and future planned training and disability awareness?

Setting SENCo’s have completed SENCO training. Individual settings have attended training for specific needs within their nursery. In-house training is offered on specific areas of SEND by the Lead Manager.

How will my child be included in activities outside the setting including trips?

Will he or she be able to access all of the activities of the setting and how will you help him or her to do so?

As far as is reasonably practicable we will ensure all children can be included in all planned trips and outings. This will be done through full consultation with the child’s parents.

How do you involve parent/ carers in planning activities and trips?

We would inform parents of the intended trip / outing /activity and ensure their views are sought. Risk assessments are always completed for any trip or outing and again the views of the parents would be sought.

How accessible is the setting environment?

Is the building fully wheelchair accessible?

We have lots of different settings. Some are on one floor so totally accessible, whilst other are accessible on the ground floor. All have accessible toilets..

Have there been improvements in the auditory and visual environment? Are there disabled changing and toilet facilities?

We have the use of an adult disabled toilet available for use by children as required in all settings.

How does the setting communicate with parent/ carers whose first language is not English?

We use visual prompts and signage and would endeavour to translate any documents into main spoken language as required.

How will the setting prepare and support my child to join the setting, transfer to a new setting or move onto school?

What preparation will there be for both the setting and my child before he or she joins the setting?

We offer a fully robust settling in procedure where we would invite your child to come and have a look around and meet us. We then would facilitate ‘settling in sessions’ and we place no limit on the number of settling is sessions or their duration. We work with individual families to ensure that the child and parents to ensure that the child is happy and settled prior to starting with us as required. Children and families will have the opportunity to meet with the Key Person and SENCO as appropriate and ask any questions or discuss any concerns they may have. Parents are requested to complete an 'All about me' book providing information about the child’s likes, dislikes, abilities, interests and routines.

We also discuss our procedures for planning, observation and assessment and parents are invited and encouraged to support in the initial baselining of their child’s learning,

How will he or she be prepared to move onto the next stage within the setting or onto school?

We operate a ‘Transition Policy’ and transitions within the setting are managed much as when a child first starts with us with children visiting the next room prior to moving and becoming familiar with the new Key Person. Parents are invited to attend reviews with their current and new key person. The SENCO will support with the transition of all children between the setting.

We work closely with local primary schools and do a lot of work ensuring children are ready and well prepared for school. Prior to starting school the SENCO and child’s Key Person would meet with the Reception Class Teacher and consult and share information that will support their transition to school.

A preschool transfer form is also completed detailing current stages of learning and development and this is shared with the child’s parents prior to sending to the primary school.

What information will be provided to his or her new setting?

Parental consent will be sought prior to any sharing of information and where possible we would endeavour to facilitate a meeting with the new setting, parents, child’s Key Person and SENCO as well as the child (where appropriate) to discuss the transition. We would share the child’s records of development and any further information relating to the child as well as discussing any concerns that the family may have.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive? Can you describe the decision-making process?

Dependent on the specific needs of the child we can of course make every effort to access specific support to enhance the provision and care that the child receives. This support may be available internally or alternatively with outside multi agency professionals. The decision would be made upon reviewing all known information of the child and what support is identified as being required. Upon consultation and permission being sought from the parents we would then make a referral to the appropriate support service / agency and follow advice and recommendations from them to implement the support required.

Who will make the decision and on what basis?

The decision would be made initially by the child’s Key Person, SENCO and parents based on what is known about the child and what additional support is identified.

Who else will be involved?

If deemed necessary, following conversations with parents, SENCo and Key Person a referral may be made to the Early Years Portage and Inclusion Team. This is done through a form, which parents ideally will assist in filling in. The form is then sent and reviewed by the EYPIT and they may offer advice or contact about additional support.

How will I be involved?

Strategies that have been implemented to support the child and record progress will be shared with parents at all stages and parents will be provided with the information from us about what additional support may be required and what is available, we will inform and support parents in making the right decision for their child, where age appropriate and where children are able, their views will also be taken account of.

How does the setting/school/college judge whether the support has had an impact?
Who can I contact for further information?

We continually monitor all support that has been provided, whether that is through an individual learning plan that has been implemented with key targets, 1:1 sessions with a Key Person / SENCO or through additional support from multi agency professionals. Regular review meetings will be held and we will continually assess the effectiveness of the support provided and this will help us decide if the support in place is effective or if we need to look at other strategies.

For further information you can speak to your child’s Key Person, the SENCO or the Nursery Manager as well as any other professional involved with your child / family.

Who would be my first point of contact if I want to discuss something about my child?

This would be your child’s Key Person and/or SENCO

Who else has a role in my child’s education?

All staff based in the room with your child will play a role in working with your child as well as any professional from any outside team working with your child.

Who can I talk to if I am worried?

You can talk to your child’s Key Person, the SENCO or the Nursery Manager as well as any other professional working with your child.

Who should I contact if I am considering whether my child should join the setting?

The Nursery Manager - details of all Bristol nurseries can be found here or by contacting Claire on 0117 9582030.