Sunflower Pre-school

Education Offer

Overview

Sunflower understands that all children should have the opportunity to achieve and become confident learners. All children access a full range of activities to develop and learn through play.

Support is given to children with special educational needs so they have full access to the curriculum. They are included in all activities alongside their peers. The settings staff foster communication with parents/carers enabling them to play an active role in their child’s education.

The setting is based in a church hall and has access to a separate community room. Both hall and room are on one level with ramp access into the building. There are double doors which allow for wheelchair access.

Furniture is at children’s level and/or access is made possible by using floor level activities.  

Passageways are kept clear at all times to follow health and safety regulations and facilitate children’s mobility.

Play areas have rugs to reduce noise levels.

The outside play area is accessible to all children. It has a covered area which is used in all weathers, to the side of the outside area there is a decked play area for the children to use, which has a variety of sensory equipment.

There are nappy changing facilities in the disabled toilet, there is also a step for children to access the toilet.

Identifying children's needs

We believe in early identification of difficulties and in appropriate intervention to support children’s progress, learning and development. Parents and carers are involved and kept informed at all times. Children who are experiencing difficulty with their learning are identified through discussion with parents and carers, observations, routine health screening and discussion with colleagues.

All assessment is play based and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum milestones.

Outside agencies may be involved when children do not progress at the expected rate despite additional individual planning to support the area of need. This is done with written consent from parents and carers.

These agencies are: Local Authority Inclusion/SEN Advisor or SEN Coordinator; SEN Early Years Panel (additional information on the remit of the group can be found on the Redbridge Local Offer website); Educational Psychologist; Speech and Language Therapist; Occupational Therapist; Physiotherapist; CAF Team and others.

These agencies will be contacted to provide suitable strategies to support children who have additional needs in a particular area of development. The agencies may also be involved in the child’s transition to other settings and to school.

Some children are provided 1:1 support through SEN/Inclusion funding. One member of staff is allocated to support the child during the daily activities. The aim of the support is to help the child to develop the relevant independence skills and may be withdrawn once the child reaches the expected progress.

When a child has a recognised condition or ongoing medical needs, relevant information is sought from parents and carers on admission and kept in the child’s confidential folder. Confidential reports and records of progress and reviews are securely stored. The setting follows the relevant guidelines for data protection and confidentiality.

Records are passed on to another setting/school with parents and carers’ permission.

Dedicated contacts

The setting’s Manager Sadaf Khan, is the overall ‘responsible person’ for SEN in the setting.  She is responsible for ensuring that legislation is met. The Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) has the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the SEN procedures. Her name is Gianni Phipps. She has undertaken the following relevant training 

SEN Modular course

The SENCO has the responsibility to: 

• liaise with parents/carers
• liaise with outside professionals in regards to children’s individual needs
• advise and support other practitioners in the setting
• ensure that appropriate learning and outcomes plans are in place
• ensure that background information is collected, recorded and updated
• take the lead in monitoring and reviewing any action taken to support the child
• ensure that appropriate records are kept for all children with SEND who require outside agencies support

Involving children and their families

• Parenting advice
• Regular contact between parents/carers and the setting
• Planning and review meetings
• Advice on how to support learning at home

Range of support available

• Partnership working with other professionals
• EYFS Curriculum planning differentiation
• Specific teaching interventions
• Support for communication needs
• Additional support strategies
• Support for health needs
• Support for behaviour

We make use of augmentative communication (e.g. Makaton signing, PECS, Visual timetable, objects of reference and visual aids) to support children’s speech and language and social communication development. 

Children are encouraged to provide feedback on the learning activities provided. 

Measuring children's progress

Planning for children with SEN is done using an Individual Outcomes Plan (IOP). The IOP identifies agreed outcomes for individual children and targeted small steps. The IOP is reviewed termly with parents and carers and outside professionals when relevant.

All activities are differentiated to meet children’s needs and allow full access to the learning curriculum.

A progress report is given to parents at the end of every term with details of the child’s progress across the EYFS. An additional assessment, the Two Year Progress Check, is also compiled when the child is two years. This assessment covers the child’s attainment and progress in the Prime Areas of the EYFS (e.g. Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development).

The Steps to Outcomes tracker for children with SEN is also used to monitor progress. This is based on the EYFS Prime Areas of learning and Development and the Early Support Early Years Developmental Journals.

Support and training for school staff

• SENCo Forum (SENCo)
• Identifying and supporting children with Social Communication Difficulties (SENCo)

Accessibility of the school

All resources are located at children’s level in clear, labelled boxes.

Makaton signing is used by all staff and taught to children during circle time and general routines.

Children’s toilets are fully accessible and provided with a step to reach washing facilities.

Changing area is available in the disabled toilet.

Outside area is fully accessible to people with gross motor skills difficulties.

Inclusion

A risk assessment is completed daily and for outings to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times.

One-to-one support is provided for those children who may require intensive support to access learning activities.

All activities are differentiated according to children’s level of development.

Transition arrangements

Children undergo a gradual transition from Key person to Key person.

The setting will pass all relevant transition records on to the next setting/school (with parents and carers’ permission).

School visits have been arranged for teachers to come in and visit with children who will be moving on to the local schools.

Support and training for parents and carers

• Parent consultation
• Links with children centres
• SENCo
• Coffee mornings with parents
• Parent workshops

Further information

For any other information you can email us at sunflowernursery1@hotmail.co.uk or visit our website www.thesunflowernursery.co.uk