Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Policy

 At Happy Children Nursery we strive to provide an environment in which all children are supported to reach their full potential regardless of their age, stage and ability. We have two trained SENCOs who have attained a level 3 Award in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities (QCF). With this knowledge and experience they provide staff training and early years care for children with special education needs and disabilities. 

Aims

  • We have regard for the DfEs Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 Code of Practice. 
  • We provide practitioners that help and support parents and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 
  • We identify the specific needs of children with SEND and meet those needs through a range of strategies.
  • We work in partnership with parents and other agencies in meeting individual children’s needs.
  • We monitor and review our practice and provision and, if necessary, make adjustments.

Methods

  • We have a designated member of staff (Saeeda Aslam) as our Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENCO)
  • We ensure that the provision for children with SEND is the responsibility of all members of the setting. 
  • We ensure that our inclusive admissions practice ensures equality of access and opportunity.
  • We ensure that our physical environment is as far as possible suitable for children with disabilities.
  • We work in partnership with parents enabling them to play an active role in their child’s education.  
  • If in the child’s interest we will work together with parents/carers and external professionals to complete the Early Help Assessment Tool (EHAT)
  • We ensure that parents are informed at all stages of the assessment, planning, provision and review of their children’s education.
  • We provide parents with information on sources of independent advice and support.
  • We liaise with other professionals involved with children with SEND and their families, including transfer arrangements to other settings and schools.
  • The nursery is part of the local consortia which offers support from  professionals and the local Sure Start centre.  
  • We provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all children with SEND.
  • All children access a full range of activities from which they can develop and learn through play. 
  • We provide a differentiated curriculum to meet individual needs and abilities.
  • The nursery has small world people that represent people of different disabilities.
  • We use a system of planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reviewing play plans for children with SEND.
  • We ensure that children with SEND are appropriately involved at all stages of the graduated response, taking into account their levels of ability.
  • We use a system for keeping records of the assessment, planning, provision and review for children with SEND.
  • We provide resources (human and financial) to implement our SEND policy.
  • We ensure the privacy of children with SEND when intimate care is being provided.
  • We provide in-house training for practitioners and volunteers.
  • We raise awareness of any specialised area the setting has to offer.
  • Parents/Carer comments are included in our assessments and reviews.
  • Information is shared with parents/carers through use of the EyLog, open days, regular meetings and WhatsApp. 
  • We ensure the effectiveness of our SEND provision by collecting information from a range of sources.
  • We provide a complaints procedure.
  • We monitor and review our policy annually.