Little Acorns Pre-School

                     Little Acorns Pre-School SEND Local Offer

 

•How does the setting know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special education needs? At Little Acorns Pre-School each child has a designated key person and every child is treated as an individual.

 

If you have any concerns about your child’s development you can discuss these with our Special Education Needs Co-ordinator(s) (SENCO), Mrs Debbie Cowley and Mrs Pat Hughes.

 

Reports from health care professionals, such as health visitors, speech & language therapists, will identify individual needs. We meet with parents and professionals sharing these reports in order to plan appropriately to meet these needs.

 

Ongoing observational assessments are made of all children and are linked to the Development Matters ages and stages of development. This in some cases identifies individual needs. If your child’s key person has identified a possible individual need, they will discuss this with you, and plan with you to support your child’s learning and development.

 

Our SENCO will offer support and advice to your child’s key person and other staff in the setting and will also liaise with other professionals to seek advice and support in identifying individual needs if necessary. The Pre-School can also seek support from the Early Years Advisory Teacher at West Sussex EYIS (Early Years Inclusion Service) with your signed permission.

 

•How will early years settings support my child? Prior to starting at Little Acorns Pre-School you and your child will be invited in to a Pre-Admission session according to needs and you will be given a Welcome Pack. At this session you will be able to discuss any concerns or requirements your child may have.

 

•How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs? We plan for each individual child’s needs and ensure that all activities are suitable for all ages / abilities and interests, ensuring all children reach their maximum learning potential.

 

Each child has their own Online Learning Journal (Tapestry), which will contain observations, photographs and photographic samples of your child’s work to help staff in assessing and planning your child’s next steps, which Parents/Carers can also contribute to.

 

Together, your child’s key person and our SENCO will ensure that the environment, routine and activities support your child’s needs, and this will be cascaded to the rest of our team.

 

Copies of assessments from other professionals and advice from EYIS will be sought if necessary.

 

•How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?Regular meetings with your child’s key person will be held to discuss your child’s progress and how to move forward with their development.

 

Assessment systems are in place such as the 2 year Progress Review / Termly Reports, which are all linked to the EYFS Development Matters. Newsletters are provided half termly online, to keep you up to date with what is happening at Pre-School. However, a hard copy is available on request.

 

•What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?

 

Routines are flexible providing a positive environment for your child’s needs and provide personal care ie. Nappy / pull-up changing. All practitioners are happy, welcoming and friendly providing an inclusive approach and provide good role models for positive behaviour. At the Pre-Admission session all relevant information is recorded on forms regarding any dietary requirements, health & developmental needs.

 

All members of Staff are First Aid trained, and all have Child Protection training. We have a medication record which will need to be signed by Staff and Parent / Carer should any medication be administered.

 

Daily checks are made prior to the Pre-School opening each session to ensure safety. Equipment and resources are inspected and made sure safe for use.

 

We have a Behavior Management Policy in place and Staff support children with understanding their actions and help them come to their own conclusions. Within the Pre-School we follow the Acorns Ways, which contribute to a clear understanding of acceptable behavior for all.

 

Activities will be adapted to ensure your child is able to fully interact within the environment and visual strategies such as a visual timetable to help with understanding routines.

 

•What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the setting?At Little Acorns we use the expertise of the EYIS team who can support us and the family with any additional needs. Parental agreement will always be obtained before the EYIS become involved with any individual child.

 

Regular meetings are attended by our SENCO and information cascaded to colleagues.

 

We will work alongside with outside specialist services involved with your child, and welcome them to visit.

 

We have links with our local Children’s Centre and can inform you of support which is available through them, ie. Speech & Language sessions.

 

•What training are the staff, supporting children with SEND, had or are having? Staff attend Early Years Foundation Stage training and training recommended by outside agencies and cascade to colleagues. A record of staff training is kept on file.

 

The EYIS is contacted when additional support is needed, we also welcome other specialist services who will support the child with their development.

 

•How will my child be included in activities outside the Pre-School including trips? Parent / Carers are asked to complete a consent form, on starting, if they wish for their children to experience these trips.

 

We offer swimming lessons during session times, on site, for a cost of £8.00 per half hour on a Monday morning. These take place in The Globe’s swimming pool on a 1:4 ratio with qualified swim instructors, and swim aids provided.

 

A risk assessment will be carried out before the visit. Any medications / aides identified would be taken along.

 

We also have visitors to the Pre-School such as Police, Fire Service, etc.

 

•How accessible is the Pre-School environment? (indoors and outdoors)Our room and garden are all easily accessible on one level.

 

We have one disabled toilet.

 

The Pre-School will translate documentation sent to them from West Sussex County Council for families whose first language is not English. We ask Parents / Carers to translate words or research translations.

 

•How will the Pre-School prepare and support my child to join the Pre-School / transfer to a new setting / school?The Pre-School invites you and your child in for Pre-Admission sessions prior to your child’s start date where you will have opportunity to discuss / share any requirements / details of your child’s needs and the involvement of other agencies, ensuring a consistent approach to the continuity of care for your child.

 

A flexible settling in period is offered should your child have any difficulties.

 

When transferring to another setting or moving on to school, the Pre-School will invite their teacher in where they can meet with the child’s key person and discuss your child’s development and next steps.

 

Children and Parent / Carer make visit to the local schools.

 

Learning Journals and any other information that may be relevant to your child will be available to the new school / setting allowing them time to make any necessary plans for any changes they may need to make. If the EYIS have been involved, they will also help with the transition to school.

 

•How are the Pre-Schools resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs? Inclusion funding can be applied for to support your child in our setting through the EYIS if required.

 

Staff plan activities and equipment to ensure all children’s experiences are full of learning through play, and arranged additional resources to be used.

 

•How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive? The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator(s) will work closely with the family and outside agencies to ensure your child is receiving all the additional support required.

 

Staff meetings within the setting will ensure all staff working with your child knows your child’s strengths and needs, and how to fully support them. •How are parents involved in the Pre-School?

 

How can I be involved? We value Parents / Carers at the Pre-School. You are involved in identifying needs, information sharing, identifying targets and next steps to focus on at home and in the setting and reviewing progress towards these targets. Parents can also be involved in contributing to their child's Learning Journal. •Who can I contact for further information?

 

The Pre-School Manager, SENCO or your child’s key person is available during sessions if you would like to discuss your child’s needs. We are able to offer advice about other professionals who will be able to support your child. If you wish to register your child at Pre-School then please contact the setting who will be happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have.

 

The Local Authority’s Local Offer can be found on the West Sussex County Council Family Information Service website.© Updated October 2024 by Little Acorns Pre-school.Proudly created with Wix.com