Little Orchard Children's Nursery

Before your child starts, settling-in visits will be arranged, where you will meet your child’s key person, who will also be your first point of call and discuss if necessary, any relevant additional support you or your child may need. You will also need to complete a registration form and ‘All about me’ form focusing on your interests, home life and favourite toys. This is part of the welcome pack which includes Little Orchard Children’s nursery policies and procedures. Staff are trained in areas that include speech and language and behaviour management. At Little Orchards we have dedicated trained Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCo) who work closely with the Key person, children and liaise with the parents/carers and outside agencies with parental permission. At Little Orchards we work closely with Portage, Services for young children and the Area Inclusion Co-ordinator (InCo) The SENCo will monitor and record your child’s progress and will be kept up-to-date on their individual development and learning. They also attend SEN support group meetings and co-ordinate transitions to school.

AAt Little Orchard children’s nursery we believe every child is unique and alongside positive relationships and an enabling environment, children are able to thrive, learn and develop. The Early Years Foundation Stage, Statutory framework sets out the learning and development requirements of the curriculum, alongside guidance from the EYFS Development matters your child’s key worker will make ongoing assessments of your child’s progress across the seven areas of learning. Planning is developed through intended outcomes, observations, child interests and stage of development arranging the curriculum that will match the individual needs of your child, ensuring that they feel part of the group and have access to activities and routines. Where there are significant emerging concerns within the development of your child’s prime areas, or an identified Special Educational Need and disability, the key person/SENCo will work in partnership with you and if appropriate other health professionals/outside agencies to develop an individual play plan focusing on the targeted area where additional support has been identified.

A daily dairy will be written for your child that both parent and key person can record your child’s day to day activities to ensure we communicate together. We also encourage you to take part in their child’s learning journeys which contains observation, assessments and their own work, alongside photographs. We will assess your child through a2year old progress check/PRAMS and our transition forms as your child move rooms. Staff will be able to discuss with you about your child’s day and the progress they are making. Meetings about your child can be arranged regularly both with us and outside agencies as required. We have an open door policy and would invite you to spend time with your child and their peers at nursery taking part in their learning with us. Our newsletters, planning boards and parent/carers information board provides information for you about children’s learning and development. Staff are happy to talk about your child’s learning and development and answer any questions you may have.

At Little Orchards your child’s overall well-being will be supported by ensuring all their needs are met, being safe and secure, ensuring positive relationships with peers and staff and being healthy. We have a policy on medication and administering medicines. Medication is only given with parents/carers consent and a medication form must be completed. Long term medication forms are used for on-going medication administration and a care plan will need to be completed with us, you and any other medical agencies involved. Staff giving medication are first aid trained and each time is witnessed by another staff member. We will not accept a child until staff have had the correct training for administering medication for your child (if applicable). All medication given is recorded and taken home at the end of your child’s session. All staff are DBS/CRB checked and safeguarding training to level 3/4 We have an Achieving positive behaviour, valuing inclusion, participation & promoting equality and physical handling policies and procedures. Where a child may be experiencing behaviour difficulties whether at home or in the setting, strategies will be put in place, that we have discussed with you to support your child. Your child’s key person alongside you and our behaviour co-ordinator will ensure your child has individual play plan in place to support their needs. We are happy to work with Hampshire Portage services and any other agencies that support children with difficult behaviour.

Each of our rooms has room supervisors who are fully trained and qualified to level 3 and have experience working with children. Staff have recognized qualifications to either level 2, 3 or 4 in childcare. Staff are first aid trained and have attended safeguarding training. Where possible all staff attends SENCo induction training. The nursery SENCo’s attend termly network meetings; these inform us on important changes, legalisation or new ideas and resources to support children with special educational needs. Little Orchards uses Makaton signing for all the ages, through everyday routines, general play, meal times, songs and rhymes. Signs and symbols are displayed around the nursery in the appropriate areas, this supports children’s communication. We are happy to work alongside Portage Service, Specialist teachers and other professionals to support children with their behaviour or additional needs.

Three staff at the nursery holds level 4 child care qualification and most staff have a level 3 qualification in childcare or are working towards. Staff have completed courses some of these include Makaton, first aid, safeguarding, speech and language, SEN, tracking progress, behaviour management, and observation/assessment & planning. If required additional training can be arranged through different agencies if available.

>Parent/carers give consent for any trips or outings where you will be invited to come, if you wish. Our ratio for children with special educational needs would be 1:1 or 1:2 depending on your child’s care needs. We try to make children aware of what will happen when going on trips/outings so they know what to except. With all trips/outings risk assessments will be done and displayed for you to see. On outings staff take with them, first aid, snacks, drinks, emergency contacts, mobile phone and any appropriate resources to support the trip

Little orchards is a converted house with a gravelled drive, parts of building are wheelchair accessible, with some doors being wide enough and a disabled toilet. Some areas of the nursery have tight corners and steps down onto the outdoor area; however access is available through the side entrance. We welcome those who are learning English as an additional language. The nursery is split into three room’s ladybirds, Pippins and Saplings. Opportunities are created for your child to make choices and explore their senses by organising the environment so that they are able to find resources for activities themselves. We have an outside garden and patio area for your child to enjoy with lots of opportunities for physical development such as running, climbing, pushing, pulling and balancing to help your child develop confidence in their own abilities.

We encourage all parent/carers to come and look round the nursery and ask questions before deciding if the nursery is the right choice for the family. If we are the right choice we do a minimum of two settling in visits, on your first visit your child will be allocated a key person and you will be given a welcome pack and asked to stay with your child. This way you, your child and their key person can get to know each other and talk about the support your child will need. On their next visit or visits (if more is required) you will be asked to drop your child to us for a short period of time to ensure the transition goes well and your child does not get to distressed. Staff are sensitive to difficulties children may have whilst going through these transitions. We do our best to support children through any transitions, if it’s a new setting/school or a room change or starting school. Transition forms are completed and meetings or visits can be arranged if required.

If the need for funding has been identified, we will discuss with you next steps that need to be taken. SENCo will apply for the funding, with the support from the Area INCO. If special educational needs (SEN) funding is allocated to your child. You will be asked to attend a meeting with your child’s key person, SENCo and the nursery manager to discuss how the funding will be allocated to support your child’s developmental needs.

Your child’s key person alongside the other staff working with your child will observe your child and together with the nursery SENCo’S and management, will make a decision on whether your child would benefit from additional support/strategies. The nursery will do their best to put the support in place and include outside agencies with your agreement. At this point individual play plans will be put in place. These are then reviewed and changed when required.

You as parents/carers play a big part in your child’s learning and development and this is why we encourage you to work with your child’s key person and the nursery for the best outcome for your child. We welcome you to come along and join your child for a stay and play session. We also encourage you as parent/carers to share your interests, hobbies and occupations with the children. Key person meetings are held termly or when required. We hold a yearly social event for all children and parent/carers to enjoy. Questionnaires are sent out yearly where you can make comments about the nursery itself. Your views are important to us for the continuous improvement of the nursery and the care of your child. The nursery has a face book page for those parent/carers for children who attend.