Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Brookside Preschool, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, included and able to participate fully in preschool life.

We recognise that every child develops differently and that some children may need additional support at different points in their early years. Our approach is centred around knowing each child well, working closely with families and adapting our environment and practice to help every child thrive.

 

How do we identify when a child may need additional support?

Getting to know each child and their family begins before they start at Brookside.

We gather information from parents and carers about their child's interests, routines, development, communication and individual needs. Where appropriate, and with parental involvement, we also work with previous settings and professionals already supporting the child.

Every child has a Key Person who develops a close relationship with the child and their family. Through everyday play, interactions and experiences, practitioners build a detailed understanding of each child's strengths, interests and development.

We also use appropriate developmental and screening tools where these are helpful, alongside professional judgement and information from families.

If we notice that a child may benefit from additional support, their Key Person will discuss this with our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Most importantly, we will involve parents and carers from the beginning.

If you have any concerns about your child's development, communication, behaviour or wellbeing, you are always welcome to speak to your child's Key Person or our SENCO.

 

How do we support children with SEND?

Support will look different for every child.

We work in partnership with families to understand what is important to the child, what they can already do and where they may need additional help.

Where additional support is needed, we use the Graduated Approach – Assess, Plan, Do, Review. This allows us to identify needs, put appropriate strategies in place, review their impact and adapt our approach as the child develops.

Support might include:

• adapting activities, routines or the environment;

• visual timetables, now-and-next boards and other visual communication;

• additional modelling and support with communication;

• Makaton or other appropriate communication strategies;

• sensory or movement opportunities;

• additional support with transitions and routines;

• smaller-group or individual experiences where appropriate;

• individual targets or support plans;

• working with other professionals and services.

Our aim is not simply for children to be present, but for them to be meaningfully included and able to participate, communicate, play, learn and develop alongside their peers.

 

Working in Partnership with Families

Parents and carers know their children best, and we believe that effective SEND support depends upon genuine partnership with families.

We will talk openly with you about your child's strengths, progress and any areas where additional support may be helpful. Where individual targets or support plans are required, these will be developed and reviewed with you.

We also value what families tell us about children's experiences and achievements at home. This helps us build a fuller picture of your child and provide consistent support between home and preschool.

Where we believe advice or support from another professional would be beneficial, we will discuss this with you and seek the appropriate consent before making referrals.

 

Learning and Development

Brookside provides a broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum which recognises that children learn and develop in different ways.

Practitioners observe children naturally through their everyday play, conversations and interactions. We use what we know about each child to consider how our environment, interactions and experiences can support their continued development.

For children with SEND, this may mean adapting how an experience is offered, providing additional resources or adult support, breaking learning into smaller steps or finding a different way for the child to participate.

We focus on what children can do and what will help them progress, rather than expecting every child to access learning in the same way.

 

Supporting Children's Wellbeing

Children's emotional wellbeing is central to our approach.

We aim to provide a safe, nurturing and predictable environment where children can develop trusting relationships with familiar adults.

We recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and seek to understand what a child may be communicating through their behaviour. Children may need support with emotional regulation, sensory processing, communication, transitions or changes to routine, and we adapt our approach accordingly.

Reasonable adjustments are made wherever appropriate to ensure children with SEND, disabilities or medical needs can access and participate in preschool life.

 

Our Environment

Brookside is fortunate to have an accessible indoor and outdoor environment, alongside our nature space and opportunities for outdoor learning.

We adapt our environment according to children's individual needs and may use visual supports, accessible resources, quieter spaces, sensory opportunities or changes to routines to help children participate successfully.

Our outdoor and Forest School approach also provides valuable opportunities for children to develop confidence, communication, physical skills, emotional regulation, independence and wellbeing.

 

Staff Knowledge and Training

Our practitioners undertake regular professional development to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to support the children in our care.

Our SENCO has specific training and experience in supporting children with SEND and works closely with practitioners, families and external professionals.

Where a child has a particular need, we will seek further advice or specialist training where appropriate.

Working with Other Professionals

Where appropriate, we work collaboratively with professionals and services involved with a child.

Depending upon individual needs, this might include professionals from speech and language therapy, health visiting, early years inclusion services, paediatrics or other specialist teams.

We welcome professionals into Brookside so that they can see children within their familiar preschool environment and work alongside the adults who know them well.

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Trips, Forest School and Experiences Beyond Preschool

We want all children to benefit from the full range of experiences available at Brookside.

Children with SEND are included in trips, outings, Forest School and other experiences wherever possible. We work with families to consider any adaptations, additional support or individual risk assessments that may be needed so that children can participate safely and meaningfully.

Starting Brookside and Moving on to School

Transitions can be particularly important for children with SEND.

When joining Brookside, we offer opportunities for children and their families to visit, meet practitioners and become familiar with the environment. Where a child needs additional support with transition, we will work with their family to develop an individual approach.

When children are preparing to move on to school or another setting, we work closely with families and receiving professionals to support a positive transition.

This may include visits, meetings, sharing appropriate information and strategies, transition photographs or books and opportunities for receiving teachers or SENCOs to visit children at Brookside.

 

How do we decide what support a child needs?

Decisions about support are based on the individual child rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The child's Key Person, SENCO and parents/carers work together to identify strengths and areas of need and consider what support or adaptations would be most helpful.

Where appropriate, advice from other professionals is incorporated into the child's support. We regularly review what is working and make changes as the child's needs develop.

Where additional resources, funding or specialist support may be required, our SENCO will work with families and relevant services to explore the support available.

 

Talk to Us

If you have concerns about your child's development or think they may need some additional support, please talk to us.

You do not need to wait until your child has a diagnosis or has been referred to another service before discussing your concerns.

You can speak to your child's Key Person or contact:

Leanne Moriarty
Preschool Manager & SENCO
Brookside Preschool
Email: info@brooksidepreschool.co.uk

We believe that early identification, strong relationships and working together with families can make a significant difference. Our priority is to understand each child as an individual and help them feel safe, included, understood and able to thrive at Brookside.

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EYFS         Early Years Foundation Stage

SENCO     Special Educational Needs Coordinator

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Further information can be found at:

Stockport SEND local offer directory | Stockport Information and Childcare Directory (fsd.org.uk)