Mulberry Bush Waterlooville

All of the children at the Mulberry Bush Waterlooville have a baseline assessment completed with their parents and key person prior to their start date.  At this session the key person and parent/carer are able to discuss all of the childs needs and their development to date.  This is documented on the 'all about me' form that goes into the keypersons file and into the childs file within the office.   All children are treated as individuals and we work in partnership with parents and outside agencies to offer support as necessary, whether it be with speech delays or concerns about children’s mobility.  The nursery is able to directly refer through Solent Health Care Trust for Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.  At enrolment every child is allocated a key person, who will offer support and guidance to the children and their parents. This supports the child in building a secure attachment with a familiar practitioner.  The nursery also allocates a co-key person who is as familiar with the child incase the main key person is absent for any reason.  The role of the key person is paramount in providing effective communication with the parents/carers.   The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville is a purpose built setting on a single level which has recently undergone a full renovation and is fully wheelchair accessible for children and their parents.   A disabled toilet ensures that children can have their personal needs met in a designated area, to ensure they feel comfortable and safeguarded.   The gardens are all on one level with plenty of space for all of the children to move around confidently.

The staff team at the Mulberry Bush Waterlooville work closely in partnership with children and their families, no matter what their background, race, religion or social status is.   We build effective relationships with our families so that they can feel confident and trust in our abilities to care for their children appropriately with engaging, enhanced activities tailored to individual needs.   These relationships enable the setting to address concerns and observations promptly and enlist support from outside agencies where necessary in a timely manner to effectively support both the child and family.  The setting SENCO will work with the key person and parents/carers to produce an individual education plan tailored to the childs needs in order to support their development.  The targets are agreed by parents/carers, outside agencies and where appropriate the childs own voice.   The targets are SMART* and in small steps so that they are achievable.  they are reviewed half termly and can be modified or broken down if they are needing additional time or support.  

*SMART targets - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound

The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville key persons plan for each individual child, using their own interests and looking at their ongoing development goals using the Early Years Foundation Stage. Observations for Individual Education Plans are conducted weekly alongside general observations, (which can be child or practitioner led, spontaneous or planned).  The SENCO and Behaviour Management Co-Ordinator's work closely with the key person  and parents/carers to ensure any additional support is put into the appropriate place.  children should they need additional support.  Parents are able to login to their childs development online portfolio to see how their child is progressing, to review IEP's and make their own submissions which can create a congruent approach to the childs development.  

The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville uses a digital online development journal called EyLog.  This system allows the parents to instantly access their own childs learning journal and to contribute submissions themselves.   The observations are assessed against the areas of learning within the EFYS and recorded regarding expected age group and whether the children are emerging, developing and secure within these.   The key person, SENCO and Behaviour coordinator all use this system to track and monitor development and to identify where the next steps for learning will be.    The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville operates an open door policy and parents are encouraged to come into the nursery at any time to discuss their children’s progress and targets within their individual learning and development.  

The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville is able to administer prescribed medication with parental consent and on the completion of a signed authorisation form by the parents.  

The behaviour management coordinator will work in partnership with any external agencies and parents as identified.  In order to ensure a cooperative, consistent and focused strategy is in place to support with any behaviour management issues.

The children have the freedom to express their feelings and personal choices confidently and supportively within a positive and engaging environment.   The nursery is a safe and secure environment.  The only entrance to the nursery is controlled via an electronic buzzer entry system.  The boundaries of the setting are secure.   Only persons who have checked permission to enter have entry allowed.  Children are supported at the nursery to take ‘risks’ within their play, with support given as appropriate.  Named 

The Mulberry Bush SENCO, Behaviour coordinator, Manager and Key persons all work closely with outside agencies through Solent Health Care Trust, Hampshire County Council Inclusion department, Primary Behaviour Service, Portage and Portage Plus.  Each member of staff at The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville is trained in pediatric first aid, safeguarding, and basic Makaton.  The setting emphasises emotional literacy of the children which supports positive behaviour of the individual.  Additional training is sourced through, 'services for young children' training and 'educare training' when the training need is identified whether it be regarding the individual childs need or practitioner supervision sessions.

When it comes time for your child to transition to primary school the setting will organise transition meetings with parents/carers, the schools SEN support team, any outside agencies involved, the keyperson and setting SENCO so that a robust transition plan can be put in place in advance of the start of term. 

The staff team at the Mulberry Bush Waterlooville are graduate led by an qualified Early years professional.  The SENCO is a graduate in early childhood studies.  Further graduates in early years are in each area of the setting and all staff are expected to continue with professional development opportunities during their employment with the company.    The SENCO and Manager have undertaken specific SEND training - basic and advanced, Makaton, positive behaviour training, Thomas training and Portage training.   Currently in a staff team of 18 practitioners we have three level 6 graduates, seven level 3 practitioners, one level 2 practitioner, six practitioners working towards level 2&3 and our qualified cook.  

All trips are risk assessed, planned and parent/carer permission gained prior to trip.  A trip proposal is submitted to the manager with risk assessment,  trip purpose, staff required etc before it is authorised.  The ratio for trips is half of the usual ratios to ensure that plenty of staff accompany the children.  Children with risk assessments for behaviour will be on a 1:1 ratio when on trips at all times.  

A child specific risk assessment for any child with additional needs will be completed prior to trip authorisation to ensure that all children are able to participate and with what appropriate additional support.

There is a mini bus on site which can be used for trips.  Only practitioners over 25 years of age and who have had mini bus certification are able to drive the mini bus.  The mini bus has fitted seat belts and children's car seats as necessary.

The children wear Mulberry Bush logo'd high vis jackets when off site.  The practitioners take with them a first aid kit, the risk assessment, emergency contact numbers, any medications needed, a mobile (non browser supported), snack, drink, appropriate weather clothing and electronic tablet for recording observations whilst out.  

The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville is a purpose built one level building.  Having recently been refurbished the setting is entirely accessible and welcoming for all its users.  The inside and outside environments are laid out to provide plenty of space and engaging areas for development.  

The children are able to free flow to the gardens from each room.  

There is an accessible toilet within the main lobby for adults and in the children's toilet area there are wheelchair accessible stalls.  The doors are wheelchair width and the main entrance has a wide electronic access gate.  The lobby has an automatic door for ease of access. 

Once enrolment has been completed parents/carers and the children are offered to come in for 'settling in sessions'.  These sessions are designed not only to support your child to settle but to also help you feel confident in leaving your child with us.  Generally we find that children settle once they are attending regularly but the settle sessions provide important time for the key person to get to know you as parents and complete your childs initial baseline on Eylog. 

When it comes time for your child to transition to primary school the setting will organise transition meetings with parents/carers, the schools SEN support team, any outside agencies involved, the keyperson and setting SENCO so that a robust transition plan can be put in place in advance of the start of term. 

Should a child require additional support then in consultation with parents/carer, SENCO and Area Inco an application for additional funding is submitted.  This funding can be used to provide extra practitioner support, specific supportive equipment, or training to support your child/family. 

The SENCO and setting manager are experienced in writing ECHP documents if required, which travel with the child from setting to setting or to primary school.   

The setting will work with the child to support their use of equipment from home; walking frames, wheelchairs, adapted cutlery etc. 

In consultation with parents/carer, key person, SENCO, Area Inco and setting manager a support plan is agreed for the child.  Our inclusion policy ensures that we will work as best as we can to meet the needs of every child. 

Once any additional support need has been identified the SENCO will work closely with the parents to complete any additional funding applications.

We are happy to support outside agencies working with the child during their attendance eg - portage, portage plus.  

From initial tours of the setting to enrolment and beyond The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville has a strong partnership with parents including an open door policy, stay and play sessions, regular parent meetings, two way access to Eylog, special event activities and parent group. 

We have an active Facebook page, The Mulberry Bush Waterlooville', on which we post activities and events and can receive comments from parents.  There is a message function to Facebook to which we respond quickly and efficiently.