Mill Grove Pre-school

Education Offer

Overview

We provide an environment in which all children including those with Special Educational Needs/Disabilities, are supported to reach their full potential.

We function from a large community hall and benefit from the use of other smaller rooms such as a lounge and dining room (all accessible via a lift). Our Outdoor space includes a large playground, a smaller ‘Orchard’ garden, an outdoor classroom, reading room, disabled access toilet and another large garden. The ‘Rose Walton Centre’ – which specialises in the care of children with Cerebral Palsy through Conductive Education, operates in a smaller hall on the same premises, and we link together for activities during the week and share facilities such as their sensory room. We currently have 40 children on our register and 8 members of experienced and qualified staff. 

Identifying children's needs

We communicate well with parents during admission and settling periods; using initial assessments with guidelines linked to the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ curriculum in order to establish developmental levels and highlight any areas where extra support is needed.

Dedicated contacts

• Hannah Wiseman – Manager
• Debbie Crowhurst – Operations Manager & SENCO
• Jodie Green – Deputy Manager and Deputy SENCO

Involving children and their families

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

Range of support available

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

We work together with health professional in order to support families and their child's health needs. We reamin available for specialist training as when needed/advised

Measuring children's progress

We use Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) and our on-going review of progress is documented in each child’s file, Profile Book and Progress Tracker. We also hold regular meetings with other professionals involved in the care of the child. Parents have access to all records at any time upon request and like all other families, are invited to attend our termly Parents Evenings and take their child’s Profile Book home to enjoy and contribute to. Each IEP is the result of our regular meetings, to which parents are an integral part. All meeting notes are shared with parents and decisions are made jointly. At Drop-off and Pick-up times parents/carers are not ‘rushed’ away; therefore providing an atmosphere conducive to sharing information and building relationships.

Support and training for school staff

We attend SENCo Forums and keep up to date with changes in practice through means such as these and other networking opportunities/ publications.

The training undertaken by staff includes specialist SENCo training (Jodie) and a level 4 NVQ module in SEN (Jodie and Debbie).

We access specialist training according to availability and need, e.g. Feeding tube training with the Nurse and parents (4 staff members attended). Makaton Basic Signing (whole team). We are a proactive and willing team of ladies, committed to meeting the needs of each child.   

Accessibility of the school

There is lift access to the main hall. We also have the use of disabled toilets downstairs and in the Orchard area.

Inclusion

Additional support is provided if necessary through inclusion funding. Activities are adapted as needed to ensure inclusion and differentiation. Risk assessments are carried out as required and daily safety checks mean that we are always mindful of possible hazards.

Transition arrangements

We invite staff from new settings/schools to visit the child at our nursery and we liaise with them in regards to the transition process and settling strategy. We have also visited a different setting with parents to support them in liaising with their childs new teachers. As with all of our children, a copy of their most recent ‘Individual Summary’ (Termly Report) is handed to their new setting and Parents are also given their child’s Profile Book, which can be an excellent link between settings, providing photos and other evidence of development. We invite children to come for a walk to their new school where we talk about road safety etc. 

Support and training for parents and carers

• Parent consultation
• SENCo
• Links with Children’s Centres

Our Termly parties (e.g. Hot cross buns and tea at our Easter Party/Hot buffet style meal for parents at our Christmas party) provide an excellent opportunity for Parents to get to know each other, swap numbers and share ‘life’. ‘Stay & Play’ events (e.g. Travelling Farm – May 2016) are also a wonderful platform upon which to build relationships and also for Key Persons to spend time with parents and their children in an informal way; modelling positive interaction and picking up on any needs mentioned casually.

Our up to date notice board is FULL of contact numbers for support lines and organisations, and we have strong links with the local children’s centres. We have also supported families and gone along with them to centres in order to help create links in the community, whilst keeping the child’s needs at the centre of all we do.