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Local Offer

Little Drummers Pre-School

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5

Little Drummers is a well-established pre-school within Hedge End. We offer a stimulating, fun and exciting environment, where children explore and learn in an individual way.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Kirsty Simpson
Telephone
07971 647019 07971 647019
E-mail
littledrummerspre-school@hotmail.co.uk
Website
www.little-drummers.org.uk
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Where to go

Name
Little Drummers Pre-School
Address
Drummond Centre,
Drummond Road
Hedge End
Postcode

SO30 2AD

View SO30 2AD on a map

Availability

Age Ranges
2
3
4
5

Local Offer

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?

Little Drummers allocates each child and family a key person during induction, underpinning the knowledge that when a child feels safe and secure they are in the best position to learn and develop. During induction you will have time to spend with your child’s key person where you can discuss likes, dislikes and any concerns about your child’s development. The key person will observe your child in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) these observations will help us to identify your child’s areas of interests, their learning style, stage of development and if your child needs any additional support. If the key person has any concerns, they will speak to you first and then these will be raised with our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) who will help the key person complete an in setting referral. If you have any concerns about your child you will be able to raise these with your key person, or SENCo, all our staff have a wealth of knowledge in child development and will be able to support you with these concerns. These concerns will then result in an insetting referral being made. During the insetting referral the SENCo will complete a series of observations and discuss these with you and your key person. During this discussion we will gain your permission to liaise with outside agencies (if appropriate), these may include: Area Inclusion Co-ordinator, Portage, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapists or Educational Psychologists.

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

At Little Drummers the key person approach allows us to plan around your child’s individual needs. Your key person will make regular observations of your child which will be recorded in your child’s learning journey, this document helps us to track your child’s development and review their progress regularly. The observations made will inform our planning on a weekly basis ensuring that the activities provided reflect the needs of our children. If your child requires additional support this will be through a Targeted Plan (previously known as IEP) that will be devised with your input, your key person and the SENCo after the initial in setting referral stage. The amount of support your child will receive is tailored to meet the individual needs of your child. This may include outside agencies, 1:1 support or small group work within the setting. Our SENCo is familiar with the SEND Code of Practice and will monitor records to ensure that they are kept up to date regarding information about your child’s learning and development.

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

At Little Drummers we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS is underpinned by the knowledge that each child is unique, through our continuous provision each child is able to learn, explore and investigate in their own way. This is enhanced with the support of your child’s key worker, through observations, assessments and next steps. We offer a range of child led and adult led activities, our planning is led by our key workers to ensure that each child’s individual needs our being met. For adult led activities we ensure that all activities will be differentiated to suit each child’s needs, to enable all children to access the activity within their stage and development. If your child requires additional support our SENCo, alongside your child’s key person, is able to develop a Targeted Plan to support your child’s learning and development. Your child’s learning and development will be reviewed regularly through assessments, such as the two year check and our end of term progress report. This ensures that we are constantly reviewing the activities that we provide allowing us to meet the needs of individual children.

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?

At Little Drummers we believe that you, as parents, are your child’s first educator. We actively ask questions about your child and the information you give us at induction helps us to plan for your child’s first few weeks. We also like you to keep us informed of progress and achievements at home using our ‘wow’ paw prints. As soon as your child starts pre-school, their learning journey begins. This is underpinned by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and we use observations and pictures to record the progress of your child. Each term we use the information recorded to show us your child’s progression. This information informs planning for the next term, ensuring the activities provided reflect the range of abilities and interests of all children. You can take your child’s learning journey home at any time. If your child has a Targeted Plan in place this will be reviewed with you, the Key Person and SENCO regularly but at least every 6 weeks. We encourage parents to come and speak to their key person regularly. Key staff are available at the beginning and end of each session. Additional time can be arranged if required. Little Drummers encourages parents to come in and take part, through: stay and play sessions, coffee mornings, family trips, parent evenings and our library and book bear service. We keep you up to date through regular newsletters and also via text message.

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

The key person is responsible for ensuring your child settle well into pre-school life, both emotionally and physically. It is important to us that your child feels safe and secure whilst at Little Drummers and this is supported by the children spending time within their key groups. The following policies are in place to ensure children are safe and have access to activities while attending Little Drummers; * Managing Allergies; * Managing Behaviour; * Medicine; * Safeguarding Children and Child Protection; * Suitable Person; * Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs; and * Equal Opportunities. For a full list of our policies and to read those above, please visit our website http://www.little-drummers.org.uk. Staff are trained in Makaton and are confident in using this throughout the session. Pictorial Exchange Communication (PECS), choice boards and visual timetables are also used. During activities that may need additional support, visual sequences are used to help the children. We use five golden rules to help support the children and their behaviour, this is supported through the use of sand timers as a visual aid to help cooperation. Staff are first aid trained and kept informed of all medical conditions within the setting. Staff can administer medication with your consent, and any specialist training will be completed prior to a child starting. At Little Drummers the SENCo runs small group sessions designed to support the specific needs of the children. These include: * Dealing with hard to handle emotions; * Language development; * Promoting social skills; and * Building self-confidence.

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

All Little Drummers staff hold at least a level 3 qualification in working with children. Our Supervisor also has a Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies (level 5). All staff attend regular professional development training to support the role they have within the setting. For example; * Safeguarding * First aid; * English as an Additional Language; * Behaviour; * Special Educational Needs; * Makaton; and * Food hygiene. Little Drummers is committed to maintaining staff training and ensuring the team are up to date on current best practice Little Drummers has experience of working with outside agencies which include: Speech and Language Therapists and assistants, Portage, Sure Start Centres, Health Visitors, Social Workers and the area Inco. If your child needs extra support, staff are confident in making contact with other professionals and maintaining a close working relationship to ensure your child receives the support they require.

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

Staff attend relevant training to their role within setting. All staff have a minimum of level 3 in childcare, are first aid and safeguarding trained and have received Makaton training. Our SENCo has attended Hampshire early years Special Education Needs Coordinator training, and attends regular termly meetings with the Area inclusion coordinator to stay up to date. Our SENCo has also attended Thomas Training and Emotional Literacy, to further develop the setting.

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

>Prior to any outings, the venue is visited by the Supervisor to ensure that they are suitable for all the children and staff who are attending, and a full risk assessment is carried out. When out of setting our ratios are lowered to help meet the needs of the children. This means there are more adults than there would usually be within the preschool setting. Before taking your child out we always ask for written permission. We also provide details of the location to be visited and approximate times. Each year the Committee arranges a Christmas Party, Christmas and Easter Fayres, pre-school trip and an end of year party. These are all organised with close liaison with the pre-school staff to ensure the needs of all children are met. This includes agreeing the location, entertainment and what food will be supplied by the pre-school.

How accessible is the setting/school/college enviroment?

Little Drummers has wheelchair access to both the front and rear of the building, allowing the children access to all areas. The staff ensure that the setting is set up in a way which maximises access to all activities for all children. The setting is set up in the same way each day to ensure continuity and to enable our children with visual and physical impairments to move freely throughout the room. Little Drummers is set within a community building. While every effort is made to accommodate specialist equipment, in some instances, permission would need to be sought from the local council as the building is used by others. Little Drummers has a disabled toilet and changing facilities. We use a range of signs and symbols to help the children throughout the setting, these include choice boards and visual timetables as well as visual support at some activities. We provide a range of posters, books and culturally appropriate items whenever possible. We also ask for help from you as parents to ensure that we include significant events for your child within our planning. If we need extra help with translation of our documentation for parents we can contact EMTAS on www.hants.gov.uk/education/ema.htm . Little Drummers is committed to providing for each child within our setting, if your child does need extra support we will work with you to ensure that we access agencies that help us to provide this.

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?

At Little Drummers we offer you a minimum of two stay and play sessions prior to your child starting with us. You attend these with your child and spend the time with them and their key person so a safe and secure relationship can be formed. At this time a settling in plan is agreed. If further consultation is required with you, or other agencies are involved in your child’s care, an appointment can be arranged at this time. We also offer an induction day in September. We can offer a graduated start for your child at Little Drummers. For example, shorter days, these can be discussed and agreed with your key person. When your child is ready to move on from us and start at school, we have a meeting with you to discuss their progress at Little Drummers. During this meeting we also ask for your input on information that will be sent onto school. We welcome teachers from the local schools to come and meet your children within the setting and we accompany the children to local schools for visits. If your child requires extra support during this time your key person will speak to the school and may set up an Inclusion Partnership Agreement (IPA) with the school to ensure a smooth transition. At pre-school, we offer a range of activities for the children to help with their transition to school. These include photos of the local schools, school uniform, a role play area and books.

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

If your child has Special Educational Needs (SEN) and requires additional resources to those on offer from the pre-school, the SENCo identifies these and requests funds from the supervisor and management Committee. While there is no set amount of funds dedicated to SEN, the setting will discuss each case individually and update resources as required. If a child receives additional funding for SEN these funds are spent as appropriate, for example, on one to one care or providing additional resources. The pre-school is set up to allow all children to have access to inside and outside areas, with a range of activities on offer. These activities are both age and developmentally appropriate for the children we care for.

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

If your child comes to Little Drummers with a plan already in place to support them an initial meeting is set up with all the agencies involved. At the meeting we discuss what support we will need to have in place and who we can access this from. For example, additional training and how we will provide this. You are then invited to a meeting with the SENCo and Key person to implement a Targeted Plan for your child. This will be reviewed as appropriate for your child, but at least every 6 weeks. If you have concerns about your child’s development when they start Little Drummers, or at any point during their time with us, you can raise these with your child’s key person. Observations will be made and discussed with the SENCo. You will be invited to a meeting with your key person and SENCo to discuss the extra support you think your child may need and, if appropriate, an IEP will be written and any relevant outside agencies contacted for support, this may include the Area INCo.

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

Little Drummers is a Committee run pre-school. This means parents can be involved with the day to day running of the setting. Our Supervisor works closely with the management Committee to ensure that Little Drummers is an environment where children thrive. Little Drummers like, and actively encourage, parents to be involved with their child’s learning. We offer Christmas and Easter Fayres, sports days, family outings, stay and play sessions, Carnival, fundraising events and coffee mornings. The luxury of being Committee run is that families can be as involved as they would like. This includes being a Committee member which allows you a vote on issues arising within the pre-school, or a Committee officer which means you are part of the decision making process. Being Committee run allows us to take full advantage of a range of skills that parents can offer our pre-school. Furthermore, it allows parents to shape the future of the pre-school which has been running for over 20 years.

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5

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Last Updated: 18 May 2023

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