Good Shepherd Pre-School

At the Good Shepherd pre school we

• We have regard for the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 

• We have in place a clear approach for identifying, responding to, and meeting children’s SEN

• We support and involve parents (and where relevant children), actively listening to, and acting on their wishes and concerns.

• We work in partnership with the local authority and other external agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children with SEN and their families.

• We regularly monitor and review our policy, practice and provision and, if necessary, make adjustments.

Your child's key person and the setting's SENCO will work together with you to create an Individual Learning Plan for your child. This will be put in to place with a review date. The Area INCO or Speech and Language Therapy Department will be contacted with your permission if this is felt to be necessary.

Using the EYFS, your child's Key Person will track your child's development in the 3 prime areas and the 4 extended areas of learning.

We have an open door policy, as parents you are welcome to come in and talk to your child's key person or any other member of staff about your child's development or any other concerns you may have. Parents are asked regularly to come in for an appointment at a specified time to discuss their child's progress and have the chance to look through their child's learning journal (this can be seen at any time).

All staff have had safe guarding and first aid training, all staff have also been CRB checked. There is a designated SENCO, safeguarding officer and health and safety officer for the setting. Risk assessments are done daily in the setting and also for any external trips.

The SENCO attends the Special Educational meetings. The setting liaises with other agencies including the area Inco, Speech and Language, Portage, Social Services, pediatricians and any other agencies needed

All staff at The Good Shepherd Pre School are level 3 qualified in child development and learning. Some members of staff have taken part in Challenging Behaviour, Makaton, Thomas training , PEC's,understanding childrens and young peoples mental health diploma and SENCO training. Members of staff are constantly looking at ways to develop and extend their expertise and knowledge of children with SEN and disabilities.

>All outside activities including trips are risk assessed to make sure they meet the needs of all the children in our care. We operate a free flow system so that children can access outside play whenever they want. We would adapt activities if necessary to meet the needs of the individual child.

We have wheelchair access in to the main building and to our garden area. The Pre-School is in a church hall which is on one level, toilets are accessible and we would obtain specialist toilet seats through Occupational Therapy if needed.

We encourage parents to come in for taster sessions before their child starts, once they have started then the parents are welcome to stay for as long as they feel is necessary for their child to settle. We work closely with local schools and arrange visits for us to go with the children or for the teachers to come and visit the children the setting.

We would apply for funding to either provide the extra resources needed for the child or to pay for an extra member of staff to give one to one adult to child ratio. If unable to access funding, we would apply to our Committee to pay for the resources/extra staff member out of Pre-School funds.

Every child is continuously assessed using the EYFS and Every child matters to track their progress and development. If there is any concern about delay in any area then the Key Person and SENCO work together with the parents to ensure that the child receives the support available for the specific needs of the child.

The Pre-School is a Committee run Pre-School which any of the parents can join. Regular newsletters are sent home and we have a facebook page which keeps parents up to date with what's going on in the setting.