Woodlands Pre-School

Your child will have a dedicated key person, who can visit your home along with the SENCO, once we get to know your child we can discuss progress and concerns. SENCO will observe your child and plan to meet your child's needs.

Every child is allocated a key person, we can offer settling in sessions and also a social story about our preschool to share at home, before starting. The SENCO will observe alongside the child's key person to assess what your child's needs are. WE will assess, plan, do and review so we regularly support your child to reach their full potential. Staff have had the latest training and are available to discuss your child's progress at any time. The SENCO can attend TAC meetings. Every child is different we follow the EYFS.

Our setting uses electronic learning journals (Tapestry) so we can record all their observations and assessments. We can see where your child is on their learning journey. As well as this each key person gets to know their child, they will liaise with parents and SENCO at the setting to address any difficulties your child may have.

We also complete a 2-year assessment and ECAT assessment on each child when they start.

If your child needs additional support the SENCO will complete an Individual Support Plan (ISP), this is reviewed with parents every 6 weeks. We may also complete a behavior plan; this is also reviewed every 6 weeks.

We are always available in session time, on the phone, by email or for a confidential meeting we will arrange a convenient time for you. Parents have access to the child's learning journal. ISP/Behaviour plans are for us to use at preschool but also for parents to use at home for consistency. We can also complete an EHCP.

We help ensure your child is safe and secure both physically and emotionally, we maintain an inclusive service. The hall and outside are risk assessed each day. All staff are DBS checked and have regular Safeguarding training. Preschool Policies include, Safeguarding, Behaviour management and Special educational needs.

Personal mobile phones are prohibited at preschool. All doors and gates are secured during opening times. Staff are First Aid trained and we have a robust medication policy.

Behaviour plans/ISPs are put in place, sand timers are used for sharing, Visual timetable for emotional support, Makaton signing and reward stickers.

Personal care will be undertaken by their key person wherever possible. We have a healthy eating policy and parents provide snacks in line with this.

Staff follow children's needs on their interests for activities and planning.

Our trained SENCO liaises with outside agencies. We have regular contact with our ISSO (Inclusion Setting Support Officer). We can refer or liaise with children's therapy services, which include Speech and Language therapy (SALT), physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Also portage and EMTAS. We can also ask for support from the Early Help Hub.

All staff have an awareness of child development. We have a fully qualified SENCO. The SENCO attends regular area SENCO Meetings, so we are aware of the latest updates in SEN support. Some staff are MAKATON trained and we attend/do online training as part of ongoing updates of staff knowledge.

All planned trips will be Risk assessed, with our inclusion policy in mind. We will liaise with parents/carers. Outing ratios will be maintained and 1:1 support if needed.

Our building is not wheelchair friendly, however we do have a disabled toilet and an auditory hearing loop, we have highlighted the step which leads to our outside area. We have a sensory den, sensory garden area and communication friendly spaces.

To help settle into preschool we do visits and a social story.

We prepare children for school by doing activities such as gathering belongings and putting on shoes so children are as independent as they can be before starting school. We have sessions where we visit schools and teachers visit us. We have school social stories available to look at. If children require extra visits, we will arrange them. We may do a TPA meeting for some children which is a more in-depth meeting between staff at the new school, preschool staff, parents and any other agencies.

Any resources purchased will be suited to a child's area of learning which needs to be developed, as a charity we can fundraise for extra equipment.

ISP/ Behaviour plans will be in partnership with parents and SENCO and any other agencies involved. ISPs are reviewed regularly; SENCO will liaise with ISSO's for advice for any other support needed. (EHCP's) 

We rely heavily on parents as they are responsible for organizing events, fundraising, overall management of preschool and are involved in any major decisions.