Local Offer – Essex

Our Local Offer provides parents and carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities with information detailing the support available at Seymour House.

At Seymour House, we are committed to inclusive practice and have a wealth of experience in supporting children and families with special educational needs and disabilities. Our priority is always the welfare, health, safety, and education of every child. We recognise and value each child as an individual, and we assess our ability to meet their needs on an individual basis.

How does the nursery know if children need extra help and what should parents do if they think their child may have special educational needs or disabilities?

Parents are encouraged to share any special educational needs or disabilities their child may have as early as possible. We aim to gather as much information as we can from parents and other professionals involved in the child’s care, before their start date, to better understand the support required. Before your child’s first day, your key person will meet with you and spend time with your child to help them settle into nursery. During these settling in visits, they will seek key information to build an overall picture of your child. This information begins to shape your child’s development profile, giving a starting point for the key person and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) to plan a tailored educational programme for your child.

We recognise that every child is unique and learns at their own pace, and in their own ways. The key person will complete regular observations and developmental check-ins, making informed judgments on progress. If progress gives cause for concern, the key person will present learning opportunities using alternative approaches and strategies, before exploring additional support options.

How will the nursery support children’s learning and development?

The key person will share observations and seek guidance from the settings SENCo to ensure each child receives the necessary support. Observations are shared sensitively with parents and together we agree the next steps moving forward. If it is agreed that additional support is needed, we adopt a graduated approach through a personalised support plan that outlines aspirations, specific targets and the strategies to be put in place to support your child. All support plans are regularly monitored, reviewed, and evaluated in collaboration with parents. In addition, each child has a unique e-learning journey, a starting point report, regular development check-In’s and a 2-year progress check.

Transitions can be a particularly sensitive time for children. We see transitions as a process which needs to be carefully planned for, involving both the child and parents. Our goal is to make transitions as positive and as smooth as possible. When transitioning to a new homebase room, we update the ‘All About Me’ document to handover key information to your child’s new key person and homebase team. Children are given flexible opportunities to visit their new homebase with their key person, and all development records are talked through as part of the key person handover.

In the summer term before transition to school, we invite the Reception teacher and/or school SENCo to meet your child and talk through their personalised support plan.

How does the nursery work with parents?

As a child’s first and most enduring educators, parents play the most important role in their child’s development. We recognise that children thrive when the nursery and parents work in partnership. Parents are encouraged to contribute to their child’s e-

learning journey by sharing recent achievements and ‘wow’ moments from home. We regularly share our own observations and give home learning suggestions through our online platform, during parent partnership discussions, daily handover and stay and play workshops. This ensures you are fully informed of your child’s progress and participate in celebrating their successes. The key person and SENCo will strive to ensure that the views, wishes and feelings of you and your child are central to the support your child receives.

How are the Team trained to support SEND

The nursery has a named Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) who collaborates closely with the key person and parents to ensure every child’s needs are met. Our SENCos are qualified early years teachers or educators who have completed specialist training endorsed by the local authority SEND Team, in line with the Code of Practice. SENCos are well versed in the Ordinarily Available framework to ensure the setting has high quality everyday provision for all and can recognise when more specialist support is needed. The SENCo is responsible for identifying and addressing any training needs within the nursery to support early identification and intervention. The SENCo often collaborates with the Head of Early Years Practice Team, who bring additional educational expertise and experience in meeting a range of needs.

All of our early year’s core staff are either fully qualified in early years education and teaching or are currently studying for a Level 3 early years qualification through our apprenticeship academy. A majority of our team are qualified in paediatric first aid. We offer ongoing training in child development for all early year’s staff, both in-house and externally, with team members accessing planned training pathways for continuous

professional development. Team regularly participate in training focussed on supporting children with additional needs and the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. Opportunities include Best Practice Workshops, access to Makaton training and resources, Reflective Practice Themed Weeks, and access to our Child Development Library.

What specialist services and expertise are available at, or can be accessed by the nursery?

The SENCo collaborates with various external professionals through the local authority SEND team, including Inclusion Partners and health services, such as Health Visitors and Speech and Language Therapists, tapping into external expertise to support the children at nursery.

SENCo’s regularly attend local SEND hub meetings to keep up to date on local services available. We welcome the sharing of relevant reports to help us effectively plan for individual needs, and we will always seek parental permission before pursuing external support. We will apply for additional funding (SENIF) as necessary to provide your child with any extra support through adult enhancement or specialist resourcing.

Furthermore, our nurseries have established connections within the community, including local Family Services, schools and charities, to promote a multi-agency approach to meeting children’s needs. SENCo’s consult with the Early Years Early Intervention Partner (EYEIP) for advice and guidance on early interventions. We are happy to direct families to specialist information and other services in the area and assist with applications for Education Health Care assessments when necessary.

How accessible is the nursery environment?

We strive to create a happy, safe, and secure environment for all children to flourish. Our teams focus on providing a welcoming learning environment with suitable learning opportunities tailored to each child. Resources are always accessible at child level, and we incorporate Makaton sign language and visual aids into our daily practices.

We adhere to rigorous health and safety procedures, and detailed risk assessments are completed as necessary to ensure a safe environment.

Since each of our buildings has unique features, we encourage you to contact the nursery directly to discuss any specific accessibility requirements.

What if the nursery is not able to fully meet a child’s needs?

The nursery is an inclusive environment dedicated to supporting children and families with a range of special educational needs and disabilities. However, as a group setting there may be instances where we cannot make the necessary adjustments to fully meet a child’s needs. The welfare, safety, and development of all children is our top priority. If we determine that we cannot meet these essential requirements, we will collaborate with the local authority SEND Team and partner organisations to identify the most suitable provision for your child, ensuring they receive the support needed to reach their full potential.