Little Elves Community Pre-School Ltd

If you feel your child may have additional needs or you have concerns, you can arrange a meeting with the Management Team to ensure procedures are put in place to support you and your child prior to starting with us. 

Every child has a communication book to be used by the parents and the keyperson to liaise regarding your child's time with us. Every Keyperson holds or is studying towards a Level 3 childcare qualification. The Keyperson is vital to form bonds with the child as well as the family. We follow the EYFS curriculum, the keyperson will assess and monitor your child to ensure they are reaching their development goals and providing age, stage appropriate activities and next steps. 

We have a trained Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) on site for 4 days a week. She regularly attends training and briefings to keep her knowledge up to date and stay on top of important changes. In discussion with parents, keypersons and SENCo a course of action will be agreed and Personal plans will be put in place. We may need to make referrals to the Inclusion Team to have the best support in place for your child. 

The inclusion team support us with access to outside agencies such as Speech and Language Therapy, Children Centres, Thomas Outreach programme, Occupational therapists, Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Services, Physiotherapists, Education Psychologists and Portage services. 

Once we have received a completed Application form, you will receive a welcome pack which contains information, as well as a All about me booklet that needs to be returned with individual information about your child to enable us to build up a picture and support you all through the settling in process. You are more than welcome to come in anytime to arrange a meeting with your child's keyperson or our SENCo. We do also offer home visits after the child has settled in for 6 weeks, this allows us to meet them in their home environment and gather more information as well as discuss your concerns. 

Your child will have a key person that your child can go to for support. The key person approach encourages your child to try the age and stage appropriate activities. We can adapt our environment dependent on each individual child’s needs. We will accommodate any specialised equipment needed. Our flexible planning system follows the interests of the children. A child with additional needs will have a Person Plan, which is written and discussed between Key person, SENCo and parents, SMART targets are agreed. We have staff and parent questionnaires annually which allow us to have feedback on our SEN provision. If your child meets the requirements for a one-to-one assistant, we will apply for funding and ensure your child has the support for their required amount of hours they attend. We are a committee run pre-school and will highlight any children with additional needs and the responsibilities this entails for them as committee members as well as the pre-school. We will make any necessary changes as and when needed to support the individual child. We annually update our Ofsted Self- Evaluation Form as well as OFSTED inspections; which includes our SEN provision, this will highlight anything we are not doing and any enhancements we could make. All staff members attend up to date training and liaise with outside agencies to ensure we always have up to date knowledge and make changes as necessary. We welcome comments and feedback to help us to make informed decisions to enhance our provision further.

Your child will follow the EYFS curriculum, they may require additional support to access it fully, this may be a one-to-one assistant or additional support from their key person. We have Makaton trained staff and use a variety of visual prompts; we encourage children and adults at Little Elves to sign. Our building is modern and purposed built on one level. The wide door frames and layout allow for easy access and manoeuvrability throughout. The child size sinks and separate boys and girls toilets allow for independence. We operate a free-flow system between 2 play rooms linked by a corridor and entrance hall. We have an enclosed outside area with an all-weather canopy which is accessed from both play rooms. Your child will have a learning journal completed by their key person and shared with yourself. The journal includes observations, assessments and summative reports. The Deputy Manager works alongside the key persons and tracks the children to ensure they are achieving their development stages. This also highlights the children that require additional support either in some or all areas. All staff will be informed to ensure we are meeting their individual needs. Our planning system is flexible to follow the interests of the children and can be adapted when necessary. We ensure we have a good range of child-led and adult-led activities. Resources are available to all children, they have image prompts on the cupboards, craft trolley and drawers to allow the children to self choose their own activities.

Parent consultations are twice a year to discuss your child’s progress. Your child’s learning is planned following their individual interests noted by their key person when carrying out observations, as well as information obtained from yourself and other professionals to ensure the activities provided for them are appropriate. Your child’s key person will observe and assess your child and produce a record of development summary termly. This forms part of your child’s learning journal with photographs, observations and artwork. Your child will have a communication book which enables communication between you and their key person. You are welcome to come in and see how your child is doing and talk to staff. Your child’s key person can come and visit you in your home environment to aid in the settling in process if you feel this would be beneficial. You can write in our planning book comments your child has made at home about activities they have enjoyed participating in or activities you would like us to encourage them to take part in. Our development summaries within our learning journals enable us to share information with you. They also give you the opportunity to add your comments. Little Elves can offer access to any training and workshops that may be relevant to you. We have previously cared for children with Downs syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Asperger’s, Social and communication difficulties, Congenital Myopathy, Nemaline Myopathy, Diabetes,Visual and hearing impairments, Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) and Hydrocephalus, We have always tailored their learning to their individual needs.

Key person will be there to support and encourage positive interactions with the children. Key persons are always on hand to support any concerns. If your child has been granted SEN funding they will be allocated a one to one assistant to work alongside them and support as well as encouraging them to access the full curriculum. We have a Behaviour Co-ordinator to help with any behavioural concerns. Please see our “Achieving Positive Behaviour” policy on our website. Little Elves will not exclude any child on the grounds of inconsiderate or hurtful behaviour. We offer home visits to children and families, we will come to your home and listen to your views and concerns. We have a lead 2 year old practitioner who attends regular training courses, to support the younger age range. Our purpose built building has ease of access, including wide door frames. Little Elves is secure and we carry out daily risk assessments. We have flexible settling in program; your key person will work alongside you to decide how you would like to settle your child. As stated in our “Administering Medicines” policy your child will have a Health care plan completed by you. Staff will be trained in specialised medicine if necessary. Your child will be able to express their views at circle time or sharing stars and leaves of kindness. Also through adult led activities in small groups. The Key person will help them to feel confident to express their wants, needs and wishes.

We are well-qualified, the Manager holds a BA in childhood and youth studies and Early Years Teacher Status. The Deputy holds a NVQ level 4 childcare qualification. All Key persons hold or are working towards a Level 3 childcare qualification. Staff are trained as and when the need arises to suit the needs of any child, previously we have been trained in how to administer an Epi-Pen, Insulin and tube feeding, Visual and hearing impairment and physical handling. We run a language group during the week which includes supporting children’s communication and introducing Makaton to them. We have regular contact with our Area Inclusion Officer (INCo) for support for all children with Special Educational Needs. Through them we access Portage, Tops and Funding for one-to one support. Our SENCo’s attend termly support groups with them to keep up to date. We can and have referred children to the local children centres for services such as toilet training workshops, reach up, reach out programs, behaviour workshops as well as SaLTa for mild speech and language concerns. We will refer to SaLT (NHS) for any other concerns. We liaise with physiotherapist, Occupational therapists, Specialist advisory teachers, Educational psychologist, Portage and Tops. We follow the SEN Code of Practice and ensure we are focussing on the four main areas which include Cognition and Learning needs, Behaviour, Emotional and social needs, Communication and interaction as well as Sensory and or physical needs. Using this as guidelines we are able to plan effectively to meet the needs of the individual child.

SENCo’s must complete a comprehensive course prior to taking up the post of SENCo. In order to keep up with their continuous professional development they attend termly briefing with the Area Inco. Staff are trained in paediatric first aid, food handling, Tube feeding, health and safety and safeguarding. Staff are trained in physical handling, Epi-pen and Insulin administration as well as Makaton “Makaton is an adapted version of sign language that is widely used by people with learning difficulties alongside speech”. Staff speak a wide range of languages including English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, Hungarian, and Portuguese. Staff have completed training courses on Achieving positive Behaviour, Supporting children with English as an additional Language, supporting and understanding children’s development, Numicon as well as training for 2 year olds. We will always look into any training that will support the children at Little Elves. We have attended Autism awareness, Child development, speech and language and portage workshops. 

>All children’s needs will be considered when planning trips. We carry out thorough risk assessments to ensure all children can attend. When planning walks around the community we will liaise with you to discuss any concerns. Including arranging appropriate transport, pushchairs or walking frames and medication needed to be taken. We invite Miller’s Ark and Zoolab for the children to get up close and personal with the animals. We invite teachers, Police, Firefighters, Dentists, Doctors and paramedics into Little Elves to talk with the children. We are situated within a community and access the facilities we have on offer on our doorstep including Morrisons, The Church and the local Primary School for library visits as well as watching their Christmas performance. For trips out we put up a list for parent helpers to sign up to in order to maintain our 1:2 ratio. All one to one children will have their assistant with them at all times on outings. Our committee of parents are involved in planning activities and events throughout the year. We have a Facebook page and Website for you to access and to look at photos and pick up vital information about Little Elves. You will be notified of upcoming events through newsletters, emails, letters and posters. We display information on the parent’s notice board and the A Frame. We have a white board to write what activities have been on offer; we do put reminders on here also. In addition to the written communication.

Our environment in made up of 2 play rooms linked by a corridor and entrance hall and an outside area with an all-weather canopy which can be accessed from both rooms. The children can free-flow throughout the setting and access the secure garden area at all times. We have 2 role-play areas; a Home corner/kitchen for familiarity and the other changes to follow the interests of the children. The wide door frames and layout allow for wheelchair access. We have a disabled toilet which is also used to change the children when necessary. We have separate child sized girls and boys toilets to promote independence. We have steps available. All specialised equipment to support your child will be secured within the pre-school to ensure it is ready to be used. The equipment will only be used by your child and stored safely when not in use. Staff will be trained on the equipment prior to your child using it. We use visual prompts on resources including toy cupboards, drawers and craft trolley, the children can self choose their resources. We use Makaton images throughout as well as photo prompts for hand washing, snack time and toileting routines. For parents who English is not their first language we will find other ways to communicate. We can use our multi-lingual staff or call upon outside services such as EMTAS for support and guidance including resources to support us to communicate with all our parents. http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/ema.htm

You will be sent a welcome pack; which includes a letter from your child’s key person, an introduction to staff and committee. As well as the process for your child to start. We send a slide show of Little Elves including photos. We recommend you and your child come into Little Elves for some pre-visits prior to starting, On your child’s first day they will be given a communication book for you and the key person to communicate any information necessary. We offer home visits to children who maybe struggling or any family who asks for one. If your child is leaving us to go to another setting or Primary school we offer our own transitions, taking your child to the local school for library visits and to see inside the school, the key person ensures that their learning journal is up to date and all relevant information is passed onto you and their Primary school. The key persons and staff will start to introduce more structure into your child’s play and encourage your child to participate in the adult led activities. We will discuss with you the opportunities to take up a full days for your child; this enables them to experience the lunch process. For your child with additional needs in addition to all of the above we arrange transition meetings with their primary school, all agencies involved with your child will be invited to attend.

All children receive up to 570 or 1140 hours per funded year of free early years education the term following their second or third birthday (dependent on eligibility for each child). The pre-school includes children who are in receipt of 2 year old funding, which is accessible to families on low incomes. Your child’s individual needs will be considered prior to them starting at Little Elves if possible to ensure we have all the resources necessary before they start with us. Through liaisons with yourself and other professionals involved we will provide appropriate resources and equipment to meet your child’s individual needs. Through regular liaisons with the professionals, resources and equipment may change dependent of the changing needs of the child. Our resources are easily accessible to all the children at Little Elves. Once SEN funding has been approved we can start to look at what other resources your child may need including a one-to-one assistant, visual aids, numicon, visual time tables, Makaton training, steps, sand timers, fine motor and gross motor equipment, Child friendly keyboard and mouse for computer, sensory toys, cups, emotion puppets and fans.

Your child will be considered on their own needs, a Personal Plan will be implemented reviewed and modified as needed. The SENCo, parents and management work together to develop and decide what your child’s needs are. We can apply for additional funding. In discussions with you we will talk through what the funding will be used for, looking at if a one-to-one assistant is needed or resources we require to support your child. For support to have an impact we regular review and monitor the Personal Plans. Following these meeting the Personal Plans will consist of smart targets your child will complete within a specific time frame and state who is responsible for carrying out the activities. Key persons will carry out observations and record your child’s progress on their development summary and monitor they are achieving within their age and stage of development. To ensure a whole staff approach to working with children with additional needs, your child will be discussed at staff meetings and any concerns identified and strategies put in place to support them. 

We are a committee run Pre-School made up of parents, they are actively involved in the running of Little Elves. You are welcome to join the committee or attend our Annual General meeting. We like to invite parents to help us as much as they can, for our walks, visits to the Church, Primary School. We would welcome any help you are able to offer. Parents can contribute by writing in our communication and planning book to communicate the needs of your child and the key person can adapt activities to suit their needs. We hold parent consultations where you are invited to make an appointment with your child’s key person to discuss their progress and look through their learning journals. Parents may stay and play whenever they are free, Take the opportunity to talk to the key person. Parents are invited to attend sports day and leavers ceremony every year. As well as Mothers and father’s day events. We like parents to share their experiences with the children, If you felt you have something you would like to share with us, please come in and talk to your child’s key person. We hold regular fundraising events where parents are asked to sign up to help. A rota is put up for parents, why not pop your name down. When liking our Facebook page, you will find out what events are coming up and you will be able to see photos of what we have been getting up to.