Alverbridge Nursery

Practitioners observe children during the session, gathering information for regular professional discussions.  Data from Keep on Talking programme (KOT) alongside our two year old progress checks are also used to further guide strategies supporting the child's individual needs.

Parents are offered home visits and complete 'all about me' documents to provide relevant information on the child.  The setting values parental partnership to support their child, with Two year old progress checks carried out in partnership with parents.  Parental and professional discussions enable an overall knowledge of the child and provide opportunities to implement additional support if required.

The setting offers various strategies to support the individual needs of the child

• individual support plans  (ISP)
• small group activities such as teddy singing, tweenies, nursery narrative, bucket therapy, reset time emotional support
• Behaviour plans
• one to one activities supporting speech and language, emotional support and challenging behaviour
• working closely with outside agencies
• visual timetables and schedules
• Picture Exchange Communication (PEC's)
• Aided language boards
• Communication books.
• Makaton

Alverbridge is an inclusive setting with an unique curriculum based upon the children's interest and local community needs. 

The child's needs and interests are identified through parental discussions and observations gathered at nursery, enabling opportunities to enhance the child's knowledge and understanding.   Our curriculum is designed by the whole nursery team around the needs and experiences we would like the children to have opportunity to take part in.  The curriculum is staged in milestones in accordance to the child's abilities, making it fully accessible to all

The on line tapestry journal enables regular updates on your child's learning and development.  Parents can also add to tapestry to provide an holistic view on the child.

All children have a relevant 'next step' to focus on developmental progress, also shared on the online tapestry journal.

The nursery operates an open door policy and welcomes parental discussions during regular parents evenings.

Specific individual support plans for additional needs are created with parental involvement and reviewed regularly.

The setting operates a key/co key system ensuring the continuity of care.  Parents complete 'all about me' documents to provide information to support the child's wellbeing.  Home visits offer an initial meeting with the key person, and further visit are offered for their settling in period.

Alverbridge has an Early Years ELSA, providing targeted support for small groups of children.

• Portage
• Speech and language
• ISSO
• Health visiting team
• Nursery Nurse attached to Health visiting team
• In house training
• The SENCo Team
• EMTAS
• Early Years ELSA
• Military family officers

• SENCo Induction
• SENCo Induction plus
• Thomas training
• Portage training
• Bucket therapy
• First aid
• Safeguarding
• Epi pen training
• On line training through Educare
• Inclusion conferences
• Understanding Autism Level 2
• MA Inclusive Special Education
• Autism and Emotional Regulation

Generous staff ratio provide additional support to enable all children to participate in activities outside the classroom.  All outings are risk assessed to ensure suitability and access for wheelchairs/buggies.

Low level entrances, doorways wide enough for buggies/wheelchair.  Slopped entrance to the garden, disabled toilets, disabled parking space and close parking for parents/carers available.  All rooms are on the same level and open planned.  The setting can offer nursery information to be translated if required, visual timetables are throughout the setting and Makaton is used to support children.

The nursery works closely with local schools, offering transition meetings to all schools.  Displays using photos and uniforms provide visual support as do social stories.  We encourage schools to visit the setting to begin forming relationships and we offer transition partnership agreement meetings (TPA), supporting both children and parents in their move to school.  With parents permission we share Tapestry journals, summative assessments with schools, ensuring they have as much information as possible on each child.

Children are entitled to 15 hours funded childcare, some may be able to claim for 30 hours.  In addition there is also 2 years old funding for those who fit the criteria.  Once the child's needs are identified, resources are adapted to fit the individual need.  Specialist equipment can be resourced from County, and those unavailable the nursery would try to fund themselves or access additional funding to aid the child's development.  Occupational Therapy will offer guidance regarding specialised equipment.

If your child attends with a diagnosis already in place, then other agencies may be involved and funding applied for.  If not once needs have been identified, with parental permission the setting would follow advice from outside agencies such as Occupational Therapy, Health Visitor, Speech and Language Therapist and ISSo'S.  Key/co person will support the child following guidance from the SENCo team, using Individual Support Plans (ISP's).  Progress is monitored weekly, discussed with parents and changes made as appropriate.  Team around the family meetings (TAF) are provided to ensure every one is kept informed.  Some funding is available according to criteria and the nursery team would look into this.

From the beginning parental involvement is important to the setting, starting with home visits, 'all about me' sheets, parent packs and extra home visits should they be required.  The nursery runs an open door policy and parents are always welcome. Parents are invited into the setting after 6 weeks to meet with their child's key person to discuss their child's starting points; and how they have settled.  Regular parents meeting are offered and staff try to accommodate parents at other times if unable to attend.

The nursery is supported by a committee and parents are invited to join.  Information about the nursery/their child is shared through various methods, including newsletters, text, website, social media, email and phone calls.  Regular open sessions are offered to enable parents to join in with their child is a play situation.