Our Local Offer provides parents and carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities with information detailing the support accessible at Seymour House.
Seymour House is committed to inclusive practice and has 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 young children. We value every child as an individual and we assess our ability to support your child and 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 with the nursery from the outset. We aim to gain as much information as possible from parents and other professionals involved with the child before their start date to ascertain the support needed. Before your child’s first day, their Key Person will spend time with you and your child to help them settle into nursery. During settling in visits they will seek key information to create 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 tailored educational programmes for your child.
We recognise that every child is unique and that children learn at different rates and in different ways. We use a graduated approach to identify SEN and then plan appropriate support. The key person completes regular observations for each child, making informed judgments on progress using the Early Years Outcomes. If a child’s progress gives cause for concern the Key Person will present learning opportunities using alternative approaches before additional support is considered.
How will the nursery support children’s learning and development?
The Key Person will share observations and seek guidance from the SENCo. Observations are sensitively shared with parents and actions for moving forward agreed. If it is agreed that additional support is needed, a personalised plan and/or provision map will be put into place. Personalised plans and provision maps are monitored, reviewed and evaluated with you. In addition, your child will have a unique e-Learning Journey, Learning Story, Starting Point Report and 2 year check.
Transitions can be a particularly sensitive time. We see transitions as a process which needs to be well planned for, and involving both the child and parents. We aim to make transitions as happy and as smooth as possible for each child. Transition to a new home base room is fully discussed and planned with parents. Children have flexible opportunities to visit their new home base with their key person and all development records are shared and reviewed.
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 benefit when the nursery and parents work in partnership. Parents are invited to contribute to development records by sharing current achievements and ‘wow’ moments from home. Records are shared on a regular basis with suggestions for home learning through parent evenings, during daily handover and stay and play sessions, so you are fully informed of your child’s progress and play a key part in celebrating their success. 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 to achieve their full potential.
How are the Team trained to support SEND
The nursery has a named Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) who works closely with the Key Person and in partnership with you to ensure that your child’s needs are met. SENCos are qualified Early Years Teachers/Educators who have undergone specialist training on the Code of Practice led by the SEN/AEN Team. The SENCo identifies and actions any particular training needs within the nursery to support early identification and intervention. The SENCo often works with the Head of Early Years Practice Team who has further educational expertise.
All Team Members are qualified in Early Years Education and Teaching and access further ongoing training through planned training pathways. A high proportion of Team Members are also qualified in paediatric first aid. Furthermore, Team Members have participated in a Reflective Practice Week on supporting children with speech, language and communication needs.
What specialist services and expertise are available at, or can be accessed by the nursery?
The SENCo will liaise with external agencies such as Speech and Language Therapists and the Area SENCo, tapping into their expertise to support your child at nursery. We welcome the sharing of reports to plan appropriately to meet needs, but parental permission will always be sought before seeking external support. The Area SENCo regularly visits the nursery to advise on types of strategies, interventions and support. The nursery has established links within the community such as the local Children’s Centre, schools and charities and promotes a multi-agency approach to meeting needs. The SENCo will be pleased to signpost you to specialist information and other services in the area as appropriate.
How accessible is the nursery environment?
We strive to provide a happy, safe and secure environment for all children to flourish. Our teams aim to provide a welcoming environment with appropriate learning opportunities for all children in our care. The environment is organised relevant to each child’s age and stage of development. Resources are always accessible at child level and Makaton sign language and visual aids are used as part of everyday practice.
We ensure a rigorous Health and Safety procedure and detailed Risk Assessments are completed where appropriate.
As all of our buildings are different, please contact the nursery directly to discuss specific accessibility requirements.
What if the nursery is not able to fully meet a child’s needs?
The nursery is an inclusive environment which successfully supports children and families with a range of special educational needs and disabilities. However, the nursery is a group setting and in some cases will not be able to make the necessary adjustments to meet the needs of a child. The welfare, safety and development of children are our primary concerns and we will recognise if we are unable to meet these fundamental requirements. In these cases we will work with the Area SENCO and partner organisations to identify the right provision that can best meet the needs of your child and ensure they achieve their potential.
