Mad Hatter's Nursery School

We invite new parents to attend 'settling in' sessions before they start. During these times we ask you about your child, their health, their development and their interests. It is a perfect opportunity for you to share any concerns that you may have about your child and their needs. Every child is allocated a key person. The key person works closely with you and your child so that all your child's needs are catered for and to give them the opportunity to experience all there is to offer in our setting. Observations of your child are fundamental to our planning to ensure their progress and development. It also assists us in identifying any areas for concern. Photographs, observations and termly assessments are recorded on a secure online Learning Journal which you can view and add to at any time via a unique password. If we identify any special needs that you have not already raised with us, we will talk to you and discuss what we can do to help. You can talk to us informally during drop-off and pick-up times or you may wish to arrange a meeting to discuss your child after sessions. Our SENCO is on hand to provide support and advice.

Your key person will work closely with you and your child to ensure that your child is supported in their development and learning and that there is a consistent approach to your child's education and development. It may be necessary for your key person to initiate an Individual Education Plan with support from our SENCO to work closely with your child either on a 1-1 basis or in small groups depending on your child's individual needs. We will undertake any necessary training in order to support children who have SEND.

All children are treated as individuals and are encouraged to progress at their own speed. When they start at nursery we observe your child and this will be used to determine your child's interests and their development along with the 'All about me' section of the Learning Journal. These observations allow us to introduce materials and relevant support to plan exercises and activities at a level to suit your child. We encourage all children to participate in and practice new skills in order to master them and progress.

All children have an online Learning Journal which gives details of their progress and development. Photographs and observations are used to record their learning journey. Parents are encouraged to look at the journal via a unique password with their children and to contribute their own photographs, observations and comments which we can then link to their Early Years Foundation Stage Goals.

The welfare and safety of your child is of paramount importance to our setting. Our policies are reviewed and risk assessments are carried out on a daily basis. Your key person will discuss and implement any specific risks associated with your individual child and their needs and/or disabilities.

Our SENCO has experience working with children with a wide range of needs and disabilities. We have worked with, and are happy to continue working with, educational psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and portage in order to support children in our nursery and are able to access other specialist services if the need arises.

Our SENCO attends support meetings and regularly attends training to update and review our practice.

>We like to modify our activities to suit the different needs and abilities of all our children. We endeavour to include all the children on our outings in the local community. Parental consent will be required to access the outings and a risk assessment is carried out to ensure everybody's health and safety (this includes the children and adults supervising the outing). If an outing is deemed unsafe for a child or consent is not given then activities will be provided within the nursery.

Our nursery is based on two inter-linking single story buildings with access via a small car park which is fenced off with a bolted gate. There is a slight lip to negotiate at the main door way into Big Hatties and a ramp is provided to access Little Hatties which also has a slight lip in the doorway. There are tarmac'ed paths and play areas so that the garden is accessible. Inside Little Hatties classroom there is an adult disabled bathroom which can accommodate a wheelchair and room to change. Inside the children's toilet in Big Hatties classroom there is room for a child size wheelchair. We are able to access equipment via the Occupational Therapy team where it is appropriate.

Children and parents are invited to attend 'settling in' sessions where we can discuss your child's needs and requirements with you and any professional's already involved with your child. Information, where available, is sought from prior settings. For children with English as a second language we ask for a list of key words that are displayed around the nursery in the home language. During the last year with us we introduce activities that will help prepare your child with their transition to school. New teachers are invited to visit us at nursery to see the children going to their school, to chat with them and share in their learning. We attend transitional meetings with teachers and professionals to help children with SEND prepare for a new school and with parents permission, pass on any relevant information. We prepare final assessments for all children to show which stage the child is at in all the learning areas which parents can access via the Learning Journal. We also pass a copy onto the child's new school.

We are able to access funding for children with SEND providing certain criteria are met. Funding is allocated depending on an individuals needs. It is used towards 1-1 support, additional time and for any specific training that staff may need to undertake.

Any decisions about the type and amount of support needed for an individual child are reached through discussions with parents and any professional already involved with your child's care. This is monitored and reviewed continually to ensure the appropriate level of support is being received. You will be included in all reviews and discussions.

Your key person is available at drop-off and pick-up times to talk to and they will encourage you to tell us about any significant events in their child's life. Any information relevant to their well-being will be recorded in our meet and greet book. Parents with special interests and/or skills are invited to come and share them with us. We also encourage parents to attend concerts given by the children and help with any outings.