HOW OUR SETTING KNOWS IF YOUNG CHILDREN NEED EXTRA HELP AND WHAT OUR PARENTS/CARERS SHOULD DO IF THEY THINK THEIR CHILD MAY HAVE SEND.

• We make sure we have all vital information from parents and carers.  We use ‘All about me forms’ to help us gain extra home life and personal information about them.

• We receive information from previous settings and from other Health Care professionals such as speech therapists.

• Each child is assigned a key person to form a close bond with both parents and the child. To support each child a variety of ways of sharing information about the child’s needs and development is available.

• Individual child’s observations are always ongoing to track each child’s progress.  In some cases, this identifies areas that need extra support.  These observations will be discussed with the Preschool’s SENCO and if your child’s key person has identified a possible individual need, this will be discussed with you and planned with you to support your child in the best possible way.

• If you have any concerns about the progress or attainment of your child, please feel free to talk to your child’s key person who will then liaise with the setting SENCO if appropriate.

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HOW OUR SETTING SUPPORTS YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEND.

• When enrolling at our preschool, you will be invited to have some taster sessions to help settle your child.  This will include you and your child coming along with your child to play and familiarise themselves with the staff and setting. We understand this is a very hard and emotional transition and we will try our best to make it as easy as possible for both the child and the parents.  At the taster session you will get the chance to speak to the SENCO if you have any worries or concerns. 

• We always work alongside our parents to support each child.

• Both your child’s key person and the settings SENCO will be available to talk to you and explain how your child’s individual needs can be met by planning support using the one-page profiles.

• Your child’s key person and the SENCO will together identify individual needs and plan appropriate next steps, accessing additional support from other professionals where necessary.

• With parents’ permission we may make a referral with any concerns that we have.  We will implement strategies and advice offered as appropriate.

• We will work in partnership with you, reviewing your child’s targets and planning new ones together.

• We have an open door policy for all concerns of parents and carers.

 

HOW OUR SETTING CREATES LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN WITH SEND.

• Every child has an online Learning Journal which contains observations and photographs of your child and their work and achievements at preschool, this will allow the key person to be able to assess what your child is achieving within the EYFS, from this your child’s individual next steps plan will be made for them, based upon the EYFS.

• You will have access to your child’s online Journal at all times.  You will be sent notifications of any photographs or observations as they are added. 

• The setting SENCO will monitor and assess the children’s progress within the setting and will help all staff members to ensure next steps and one-page profiles are completed.

• We identify the specific needs of children with SEND and meet those needs through a range of strategies such as now and then cards, visual timetable and British Sign Language.

 

HOW OUR SETTING WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS/CARERS.

• As a committee led preschool we are happy to have parents involved with the group.  This could be as a member of the committee, there are a variety of roles which vary in areas of interest and the amount of time you have available.  Or as a volunteer parent helper, this does not have to be on a regular basis.  We offer regular "stay and play" sessions for parents/carers to come along and spend some time in the setting with the children.

• We have  our online system, Tapestry where you are encouraged to share your child’s achievements such as sleeping in a big bed, swimming with no arm bands or drinking from an open cup.  These successes are then used by your child’s key person to enhance your child’s learning.

•  We have half termly newsletters which give an overview of the activities the children have participated in and any future activities which are planned as well as up to date news items.

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HOW OUR SETTING SUPPORTS THE WELLBEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEND

• Brookside Preschool follows the safeguarding, welfare and learning and development requirements of the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage).

• Our policies are available to read online (see link below) and hard copies are held within the setting.

• We will make reasonable adjustments to promote equality of opportunity for all children and will take steps to ensure that children with medical conditions get the support required to meet their needs.

• Risk assessments are carried out daily and are continually reviewed.

• Children are signed in and out of the setting and only allowed out of the setting with a named person whom is know to staff; unless by prior arrangement or in an emergency, when we have the use of an agreed password system.

• We ensure that parents are informed at all stages of the assessments, planning provision and review of their children’s education.

• We provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all children.

• We ensure that our physical environment is as far as possible suitable for children with disabilities.

• We include all children in our setting and make sure that all the children are receiving praise and support.

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STAFF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN SUPPORTING YOUR CHILDREN WITH SEND.

• All staff are trained or in the process of gaining their level 3 qualification.  They have many years of experience working with children between the ages of 2 and 5 years, as well as some staff being parents themselves.

• Two members of staff have completed the SEN code of practice training.

• All staff regularly attend training on various subjects and cascade the information received to all staff members.

• We have a wide support network outside the preschool and can contact any service for advice or to make a referral. Services include; speech and language therapists, teachers, health visitors.

•  Further training will be sought and accessed to support an identified SEND.

• Our SENCO has received full appropriate training to support the role

• We work in partnership with parents and other agencies in meeting individual children’s needs.

 

SPECIALIST SERVICES AND EXPERTISE ARE AVAILABLE AT OR ACCESSED BY OUR SETTING.

• We work with all professionals as required by individual children and always encourage the professionals to come into the setting to visit the child.  Parental permission is always sought before advise/referrals are made

• We investigate what support is available to support your child and yourself.

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HOW OUR SETTING INCLUDES YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEND IN COMMUNITY BASED ACTIVITIES AND OUTINGS.

• All children are welcome to attend trips and outings.   

• Prior to any trip we will discuss with the parent the best way for their child to access the activities during the trip.  (If required additional risk assessments will be carried out.

• On all trips all staff members are Paediatric First Aid trained and will carry a fully equipped first aid box when accompanying the group.

• A mobile phone and contact details and a register for the children will be taken on the trips.

 

OUR ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT.

• Our building and toilets are fully wheelchair accessible and are all on one level.  The outside and inside area of the setting is on one level.  

• We use visual timetables to support routines and communications. 

• Photographs of the preschool toys and resources are used within the setting to help children communicate their wants and needs.

• We have a wonderful nature space which is accessable to all, to help us learn and to support childrens wellbeing

 

HOW OUR SETTING PREPARES AND SUPPORTS YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEND WHEN JOINING THE SETTING AND WHEN TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SETTING OR SCHOOL.

• We offer settling in sessions where you can bring you child into play before they officially start so your child can become familiar with the setting and the staff.

• We are flexible and have many strategies which we can use to help settle your child.

• When going to school, your child will make visits to their new school to meet their new teacher.

• Primary school teachers are actively encouraged to visit their new students at the preschool to meet them and talk to their key person and SENCO.

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HOW OUR SETTING ORGANISES ITS RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEND

• We carefully assess, plan, do and review each individual’s needs, this is known as the Graduated Approach.  Resources are then allocated so that all children can have full access to the equipment and the setting’s areas of learning.  We would also ensure staff attend any specific training as necessary.

• We will speak to the local authority to find out how we are able to access necessary resources.  This would initially be with the Area SENCO who have resources available to loan.

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HOW WE DECIDE ON APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SEND.

• The key person will make regular observations linked to the EYFS ages and stages of development.  With yourself and the settings SENCO. 

• The setting will identify what support is required, if necessary extra support will be sought for the Area SENCO at the local authority with parental permission.

• A one page profile will be put in place by the key person, SENCO and parents.  The SENCO will give advice on meeting your child’s needs within the setting.  Reports from professionals, working with you child will be used to plan support within the setting.

• The key person/SENCO will keep all the staff up to date with children’s needs during the session.  This will ensure all the staff working with your child knows your child’s strength and needs and how to support them.

   

 

WHO TO CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

More detailed information is available in our policies which are located below but can also be viewed at preschool.

If you would like to discuss your child prior to starting at Brookside  Preschool please contact:

Michelle Hughes during preschool hours or email: info@brooksidepreschool.co.uk

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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)