Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School

Schools Extended Local Offer Response

How does the setting/school/college know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

If your child has already been identified as having additional needs, e.g. they have been assessed by the paediatrician at the Child Development Centre (CDC) then staff in the nursery will already have that information before your child starts nursery and your child will initially access the enhanced provision known as Rainbow. We will invite you to visit the school with your child to have a look round and speak to staff. An initial interview with yourself will be held for us to gather as much information about your child and their individual circumstances and needs.

If your child starts in mainstream staff will spend the first few weeks getting to know your child. If your child appears to be struggling with some things that their peers are not then a more in-depth assessment will take place followed up with a discussion with yourselves to share opinions and/or concerns about development. With your permission the school’s SENCo will complete an observation of your child. On completion a meeting will be arranged between the SENCo, yourself and your child’s keyworker. Relevant support will be coordinated to address the needs of your child.

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

Please come and discuss with your child’s keyworker any concerns you may have about your child’s development. If your child has had a two year check from health or from a pre school setting this may be a good starting point to identify any possible Special Educational Needs (SEN) issues. An in-depth assessment and closer monitoring of your child will be carried out and you will be given feedback. Staff may also sign-post you to other services outside the school which may offer further support. If you are not happy that the concerns are being managed and that your child is still not making progress you should speak to the SENCo or Head Teacher. If you are still not happy then you should speak to the SEND Governor.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child's/young person's needs?

We have a team of highly experienced SEND staff with accessibility to  a team of other experts for additional advice. Your child’s keyworker will work alongside the school’s SENCo to ensure we are able to plan for and coordinate relevant support including Personalised Learning Plans, additional resources and adaptions to the environment if appropriate. Regular review meetings with yourself will take pace to share your child’s achievements and to plan for their next steps. We will also ensure you are involved in supporting your child’s learning too. It is very much a partnership approach. If appropriate we will liaise with other people who may come into school to help your child’s learning e.g. Speech Therapist, Physio and Occupational therapists, Visual and Hearing Impairment team and the Educational Psychologist. Before all referrals are made you will be asked to a meeting to discuss your child’s progress and help to plan possible ways forward. If needed we will give additional training to staff so that they are aware and confident about how to meet the needs of your child.

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child's/young person's learning?

All teaching is based on building on what your child already knows, can do and can understand. Your child will be continually assessed to ascertain starting points and next steps for learning. Your child’s key worker will put into place different ways of teaching so that your child is fully involved in learning. This may involve using more practical learning and specific strategies which may be suggested by the SENCo. For example, your child may access communication through Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or MAKATON (signing), or have speech therapy in the form of Narrative Therapy or a sensory type curriculum might be more appropriate. Your child’s key Worker will also differentiate activities according to your child’s specific needs ensuring activities are adjusted to enable your child to access their learning as independently as possible. Your child’s progress is continually monitored and reviewed formally every term along with your child’s Personalised Learning Plan if they have one. You will be kept informed and will be involved in any reviews and planning for your child’s next steps.

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall well being?

During the time your child attends with us at Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School (Alternative Provision), staff will ensure that you are kept fully informed as to the progress they are making. All children are assessed through the use of an assessment document linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. These assessments are updated and progress is shared with parents/carers on a termly basis.

We follow a graduated approach as outlined in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years (June, 2014).  This approach consists of four stages of action: assess, plan, do and review.

Your child will have a personalised plan that relates to your child’s specific needs and will state the following:

• expected outcomes
• appropriate interventions and support
• expected impact on progress
• review date.

This will be written and reviewed in partnership with parents/carers and, where appropriate, will take in to account the views of the child (or parents/carers on behalf of the child). 

If appropriate a therapy programme written by a professional e.g occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, teacher for visual impairment and/or hearing impairment, educational psychologist will be part of the intervention package for your child.

Our expectation is that parents/carers work in partnership with nursery to ensure that strategies are reinforced at home with the aim of developing sustained progress for your child.

In addition to regular liaison with nursery staff, parents/carers are invited to attend two meetings. The first is an opportunity to meet the educational psychologist; the next is an opportunity to learn more about appropriate school provision available in Warrington.

For those children who access support via the outreach service based at Sandy Lane, a package of advice and guidance (as outlined above) will be offered.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the setting/school/college?

At Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School (Alternative Provision), all nursery staff are experienced in working with and supporting children with a variety of additional and complex needs. We may feel it would be beneficial for your child to be based or have more time in our ‘Alternative Provision’ where we offer a higher level of staffing support. Our Alternative Provision is based within four smaller, quieter rooms which have been purpose built, furnished and resourced to meet the physical, learning and emotional needs of our children. 

The nursery session is structured to ensure the following:

• safe and comfortable spaces
• opportunities for learning in a multisensory environment
• small group times with the aim of developing social skills, attention and listening  and communication skills
• specific and individualised behaviour strategies are implemented where necessary and in partnership with parents/carers.

The majority of nursery staff at Sandy Lane are first aid trained and are very experienced in this role. We are used to having children attend with us who have a variety of complex medical needs and medication requirements. We are happy to liaise with health colleagues to request training in relation to specific conditions and the administration of medication.

Staff at Sandy Lane value the interests, thoughts and feelings of all children.  We endeavour to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to express their own views and opinions in a supported manner. Through our everyday observations we are able to monitor the wellbeing of your child.

What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had? Are any being trained currently?

We are fortunate to have highly trained and experienced staff based within Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School. Our staff team consists of:

• an experienced Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
• a specialist Early Years Special Educational Needs Outreach Teacher
• a team of qualified teaching staff
• and a large team of qualified teaching assistants.

We work in close partnership with health services based at the Child Development Centre (CDC), e.g. the speech and language therapy service, physiotherapy, occupational health in addition to colleagues based within the sensory support service, social care, the educational psychology team and children’s centre services.

Referrals to Sandy Lane alternative provision and outreach service are made by CDC health professionals, e.g. paediatrician, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist. 

The Early Years SEN Outreach Teacher and the SENCo coordinate the daily management of the SEN specialist services at Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School and provide the following:

• support to parents/carers in making decisions regarding appropriate nursery/school placements
• overseeing transitions in to the early years/school setting
• liaison with other education and health professionals
• assessment of individual child’s needs
• guidance and support for staff within the child’s early years setting
• experiences for children which adhere to the SEN Code of Practice
• support and involvement in devising and reviewing personalised plans
• support staff in other early years settings to ensure that quality inclusive learning experiences take place
• monitoring to ensure that the needs of the individual child are being met by nursery staff
• signposting parents/carers and practitioners to appropriate agencies and services, including Children’s Centre.

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

Staff within the nursery are trained in the following areas:

Speech and language

• Makaton
• PECS
• Using visual prompts including signs and symbols
• On body signing
• ‘Every Child a Talker’
• Narrative Therapy

Physical

• Use of specialist equipment, e.g. specialist seating, standing frames and walking frames
• Use of hoist
• Manual handling

Diagnosed conditions

• Autism
• Downs Syndrome
• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Cerebral Palsy
• We are always keen to undertake training specific to children’s individual needs

Sensory

• Massage
• Aromatherapy
• Using a sensory room
• Sensory curriculum
• Tac-Pac

Medication

• Administration of specific medications
• Paediatric first aid
• Bespoke training relating to specific diagnosed conditions

Behaviour

• Behaviour plans

Portage

• Four nursery staff members have recently undertaken a Portage four Day Basic Workshop
• It is our aim to introduce a home support service which will incorporate portage principles.  This service will be available to those families attending Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding disabled children

How accessible is the setting/school/college environment?

As part of our weekly nursery routine, children access a variety of out of classroom activities including the following:

• community walks
• visits to the local café/shops
• children’s centre library
• visits to the park
• Forest School.

During these activities, a high adult to child ratio is in place, risk assessments are used and health and safety policies are adhered to. We endeavour to include all our children in these activities wherever possible, taking in to account their individual developmental and physical needs. We have a range of transportation options suitable to the needs of the children in our care.

In addition to these experiences, all children take part in educational visits which enhance learning. We ensure that transport is appropriate to the physical needs of all children and accessible for specialist equipment. Risk assessments are completed in advance, taking in to consideration the needs of all children.  This takes place in consultation with parents/carers who are also always invited to accompany their child during the visit.

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School is a modern, single storey building and was purpose built to accommodate children who may have specialist seating and equipment. Within nursery, there are wide doorways, level flooring and a number of ramps to ensure easy access for all. Within our alternative provision, we have disabled toilet facilities and a large rise and fall changing bed.

The classrooms are designed to offer calm, relaxing spaces with specific areas for multi-sensory experiences to take place and we have a large hi-tech multi-sensory room on site. There are low level windows to enable the children to see the outdoor space and furniture appropriate to the children’s size and needs.  We are able to make physical and sensory adaptations as and when required.

We are fortunate to have a large, landscaped garden area which offers a variety of inclusive play experiences, e.g. beach area, dry river bed, mud kitchen, multisensory pathway, water pump and troughs, storytelling area, village on stilts, willow walkway, wild exploratory area, large basket swing, slide and sheltered areas for all weather play. We have an on-site forest which all children access at some point during the school year. 

For the children in our alternative provision, we have a smaller outdoor play area available should they not choose to access the larger space.

To ensure we meet the needs of children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) or language delay, we utilise a variety of visual cues and prompts and display these in the nursery environment.

How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

If appropriate your child will receive a home visit and as part of your initial meeting with your child’s key worker we will endeavour to find out as much as possible about your child to ensure a smooth transition into Nursery. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about our setting and your child’s future experiences.

Your child will be offered an initial visit to nursery (usually one hour).  During this visit, parents/carers are invited to stay with their child as they become familiar with the nursery setting and staff members. We appreciate that starting nursery may be difficult for some children and, in response to this, we are flexible in relation to the number/length of transition visits each child has.  Parents/carers are welcome to stay within the building until it is agreed that the child is settled and happy.

When the time comes for your child to move to reception class, the staff at the receiving school will be invited to spend time with your child at Sandy Lane, observe them in a familiar learning environment and share information with key staff members. Following this, a transition meeting will be arranged involving parents/carers, current teaching staff, new teaching staff and any named health professionals currently supporting your child. It is usual that the receiving school invite you and your child to spend time in the new school prior to the summer holiday.

Any information collated at Sandy Lane will be forwarded to the new setting and staff are welcome to contact us for support and guidance in September should this be needed.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

The school budget, received from Warrington Local Authority, includes money for supporting children with Special Educational Need (SEN).

The Head Teacher decides on the budget for Special Educational Needs (SEN) in consultation with the school governors, on the basis of the needs of the children currently in the school.

The Head Teacher and the SENCo discuss all the information they have about SEN in the school, including:

• The children getting extra support already
• The children needing extra support
• The children who have been identified as not making as much progress as would be expected

They will decide what resources, training and support is needed. All resources, training and support are regularly reviewed and changes made as needed.

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

Within Sandy Lane Nursery and Forest School, support for individual children is allocated in response to individual needs. Your child’s key worker and SENCo will assess how best to support your child and liaise with yourself to discuss their observations of your child and talk about their recommendations.

Through regular observations, assessments and evaluations of your child’s Personalised Plan we will be able to realise the impact of any additional support, interventions etc on your child’s progress. These will be discussed with yourself and will determine future programmes of support to ensure progress for your child.

Where the Early Years SEN Outreach Teacher has received a referral from the CDC for a child, regular support visits are undertaken.  This may be a support visit to another early years setting or to a child’s home.