The Children and Families act of 2014 requires that all local authorities publish information about all services in the area for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This can be found on the Leeds City Council website http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Leeds-Local-Offer.aspx
In addition to this Early Years settings have been asked to publish more detailed information about their arrangements for identifying, assessing and making provision for all children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Here is the Clarendon Nursery ‘offer’ which is in addition to that which Leeds City Council can provide.
Our Local Offer
Information about what Clarendon Nursery provides for children and their families with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)
At Clarendon Nursery we aim to respond to the individual needs of adults and children ensuring their needs are of paramount importance at all times. Every member of staff has a responsibility to ensure that the individual needs of all children who attend our setting are being met. Our setting ensures that each child is treated with equal consideration enabling them to fulfil their optimum potential whilst at nursery. We are committed to providing appropriate learning opportunities for all children in our care.
All Special Educational Needs provision is overseen and managed by the Nursery Manager, Abigail Brightbart and is co-ordinated by the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCO) Julia Gardner and Jenny Taylor.
What are the responsibilities of the Clarendon management team in enabling and supporting inclusive practice?
The Management team are responsible for all the practices and policies relating to inclusion, i.e. that they are current and fully implemented. We will ensure that the staff team has access to training. We provide an environment that is enabling for all children and is stimulating and nurturing. We will make suitable changes and adjustments to our provision where possible. We aim to create a positive environment that values and respects each child and we value all our families and welcome them to be part of the nursery and share in their children's learning. We encourage our staff to have regular, honest and meaningful communications with parents and to share information with external agencies, if it is in the child's best interests.
A right to be included
We have high aspirations for all our children and ensure that a child’s right to be included is at the heart of our practice. By using the principle that inclusion is a right for all children we can make sure that every child who attends Clarendon Nursery:
§ has an equal chance to learn and develop
§ participates equally in activities
§ is given the opportunity to communicate in their preferred format
§ has their individual needs known and met
§ feels safe and know they belong
§ is valued as a unique individual
§ feels strong and confident about their identity.
How will Clarendon Nursery prepare and support my child to join the setting?
We offer an in-depth settling in period which requires you to attend three visits with your child before they start at the nursery. At this time you will meet with your child's key person and spend time sharing information in order for us to provide informed support. The child's well-being is central to everything we offer and the settling in period will be tailored to the child's individual needs. Parents are expected to spend time at the nursery during the settling in period and familiarise themselves with the staff and in particular the key person. These early days will provide the foundation for a trusting and strong relationship between the whole family and the key person.
· The first settling in visit will provide an opportunity to meet your child's key person and to start talking about your child's interests and care requirements. Together you will complete a settling in record, an all about me form and an entry assessment a record detailing your child's current development and starting points. This will provide the key person with an indication of your child's stage of development and is a foundation for future planning. It is recommended that the first and second visits are opportunities for your child and yourself to get to know the setting and the staff who will be responsible for your child.
· The second visit you will spend some time with one of the management team to discuss the nurseries policies and procedures. If your child feels quite settled, it may be appropriate for you to leave your child for a short period of 2-3 hours on their third visit, but the duration should be discussed with the key person so that everyone feels confident. If it is felt that your child needs further visits this will be discussed and arranged with you.
If your child is going to need some additional support, we will arrange for you to meet with our SENCO to discuss your child needs further. If any other professionals are already involved with your child then with your permission our SENCO may contact them for further information and advice or to arrange appropriate staff training before your child starts at the nursery. They will also coordinate any adjustments to the nursery provision that might be needed for your child. We are committed to early intervention and believe getting the right support early on is very important.
How accessible is the Setting?
The nursery is situated in the grounds of the Clarendon Wing at the Leeds General Infirmary Hospital. We have six car drop off points at the front of the building, there are dropped curbs and the nursery is accessed via the ramp at the front entrance of the building. The nursery has a speak and view monitor for security.
An appropriate and accessible learning environment is provided with all rooms for the children on the ground level apart from our movement and sensory room which accessed by steps. This room is also used as a sleep room for the children aged between two and four years to access to sleep and rest, and is used for around two hours on an afternoon. We are fully committed to the inclusion of all children provision. We will take appropriate measures to make adaptations to ensure everyone is treated equally.
How does Clarendon Nursery know if a child needs extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs? How will I be able to raise any concerns I may have?
Parents can speak to their Key person to discuss initial concerns, or arrange an appointment with our SENCO, Jenny Taylor or Julia Gardner. If you have any concerns about your child's development this information should be shared with the key person. The key person will be responsible for regular observations and assessments that link to the Development Matters and Early Years Outcomes age and stages of development. All children’s learning is monitored and tracked by their Key person and our (EYP) Early Years Professional.
If we are concerned about your child’s development we will collect information from all staff involved with them and we will also ask for your views and any information that you can provide. Parents are an important source of information; we will work actively with you and keep you fully informed about what is being done to meet your child’s needs. If it is decided that your child needs further support, the Key person will work with the SENCO to arrange this.
The SENCO may also liaise with other professionals, with your permission, such as the Area SENCO, the Speech and Language Therapist, or the Health Visitor. This advice might involve meetings and reports in order to enable the key person to plan for the individual needs of your child.
How will Clarendon Nursery staff support my child’s learning and development? Who else will be involved with my child and what will their role be?
Your key person will be responsible for the day to day care of your child and for the observations and assessments that help to inform us of your child's current stage of development and of their next steps in learning. You are able to contribute to these recordings so that we have a complete record of your child’s development.
Your child's development will be regularly tracked and evaluated by their Key person, our Early Years Professional (EYP) and the nursery SENCO may be asked for advice if this is felt necessary in order to plan appropriately for your child's individual needs. As parents, you will always be included in planning for your child's needs.
If your child has complex, specific or general learning needs they may have a personalised individual support plan (ISP) which detail any additional activities, strategies, or special arrangements. Additional specialised resources may be provided if needed.
Your child's key person is your first line of contact they are supported by their room leader, Early Years Professional, SENCO and Nursery Manager. Your child's key person, together with the SENCO will be able to signpost you to Education and Health professionals who can offer support and advice. We can also make a referral for specialist help with your permission. Information can also be obtained from your Health Visitor the Family Information Services and the Local Education Authority website. We believe getting the right support early on is very important.
How will Clarendon nursery help me to support my child's learning?
Parents/carer’s are involved from the very beginning, during the initial tour around the nursery and during the first settling in sessions. Building a strong and trusting relationship and understanding your child's needs and interests is important to us. We would like you to share information with us on a regular basis to enable us to appropriately plan for your child, so that we can plan for your child's next steps and review their progress against their learning outcomes. You have access to your child's Learning Journey and can take it home or contribute to it whenever you like.
There are notice boards and displays throughout the nursery that have information with regard to the Early Years Foundation Stage, your child's learning and items of particular interest. There are boards used for displaying planning and your child's key person can explain to you how we plan for your child's next steps, it is important that we use the information that you provide us with to ensure that your child's needs and interests are fully met. Much of the day will be spent observing, talking and listening to your child to ensure that the planning reflects those needs and interests. The management team oversees and monitors the planning to ensure that all areas of learning are covered and that your child is receiving a broad and balanced curriculum in order to make progress in his/her learning and development. There are opportunities for parents to continue this learning at home and your key person can provide examples of everyday activities that can help to support this learning.
How will I know how well my child is doing? What opportunities will there be for me to discuss my child's progress?
There are opportunities on a daily basis for discussion with your child's key person. Each child has a Learning Journey. This contains observations, photos and assessments. You may look at this whenever you wish, take it home, share with your child or contribute to it with your own observations and comments. There are also planned parent's evenings twice a year that give you the opportunity to discuss and complete a form with the key person with any additional information relating to your child’s interests, needs or next steps. The parent's evening provides an opportunity to look at your child's progress in line with the ages/stages of development linked to the EYFS, Early Years Foundation Stage framework. We assess your child’s progress using the non- statutory Early Years Outcomes guidance to check that your child is developing at expected levels for their age across the seven areas of learning.
For children who are aged between 2 and 3 years, there is the 2 year old progress check that will be completed by the key person and the parent, this check will identify your child’s strengths and any areas were your child’s progress is slower than expected. It may form the basis for early intervention if particular concerns, SEN or disability have been identified. The key person will regularly review your child's progress and development and will share this information with you.
What opportunities will there be for regular contact about things that have happened at nursery?
Parents play a vital part in nursery life and there are many opportunities to become involved such as helping on trips, sharing skills, interests, or fundraising activities. We also run sessions such as Stay and Play where parents can stay and take part in activities with their children. We hold parents meetings and regularly send out questionnaires.
To inform parents of upcoming events and share news and knowledge we use our termly newsletters, information is displayed on our notice boards and information table in the entrance of the nursery. We use email, our text messaging service and Clarendon Nursery has its own website.
What support will there be for my child's overall well-being and Social, emotional and behavioural development?