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Local Offer

Willowdene Nursery School

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5
  • Primary school aged children
Carescheme type:
  • Day nursery

Homely, free-flow environment, good facilities and well qualified staff. We aim to offer the best for all children.

Who to contact

Telephone
01256 324191 01256 324191
E-mail
willowdene@btconnect.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Willowdene-Nursery-School/10150089046005145?ref=bookmarks

Where to go

Address
42 Reading Road
Chineham
BASINGSTOKE
Hampshire
Postcode

RG24 8LT

View RG24 8LT on a map

Availability

Age Ranges
5 to 8 years
0 to 5 years

Inclusion Information

Special Needs provision
Yes
Special Needs Experience
Physical impairment
Visual impairment
Hearing Difficulties
Language impairment
Details
Caters for children with special needs.

Childcare Information

Funded Places

Offers 3 & 4 year old funded places
Yes
Offers 2 year old funded places
Yes

Opening Times & Facilities

Opening Times
Opening Times
DayOpening TimeClosing Time
Monday 08:00 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 17:00
Thursday 08:00 17:00
Friday 08:00 17:00
Facilities
Pets
Messy Play Area
Sleeping Area
Outdoor Play
Computer

Local Offer

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

Your child’s key person will plan the education programme based on your child’s Initial Observations and any information that you or outside agencies have provided. The key person will work closely with the SENCo and together they will plan activities and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The SENCo will also support the key person in carrying out these activities. This is all shared with you, the parent. Weekly conversations will allow the SENCo and key person to review and assess these activities. IEPs will be reviewed regularly to assess its effectiveness and a new IEP will be written when your child has achieved the targets. All assessments will be done within the EYFS framework. The SENCo is also responsible for making referrals and requests for any outreach help and will keep parents informed about when visits will occur and how they went.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child's/young person's needs?

Your child (and every child in the setting) is an individual and their individual needs and interests and where your child is according to the EYFS will be known to your child’s key person through conversations with you, other professionals and observations made within the setting. All planning is based around your child’s interests and all activities will be adapted according to your child’s abilities. This ensures that your child is able to be fully involved in all aspects of nursery life. We cover the 6 areas of learning in every session.

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child's/young person's learning?

Your child’s key person will be able to tell about your child’s day when you come to pick them up. If your child’s key person is not available to talk to you the staff will be aware of any messages that need to be passed on and a handover sheet detailing what they’ve eaten, if they’ve slept, toileting and what they’ve been playing with will be given to you. IEPs will be discussed with you and they will give an idea of expectations and targets as well as activities that you can do at home. Observations will be written on the Interactive Learning Diary. This is an online system with your own individual password that only you can access which is updated fortnightly showing all the things that your child has been enjoying at Willowdene. This system also allows you to add photos and comments so that we can see what your child has been enjoying at home. The observations also include a next steps section. We have an Open Door Policy where you can come in and chat to your key person, SENCo or manager at any time. If wanted, an appointment can be made and a private room is available for conversations that may be confidential or sensitive.

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall well being?

Your child will be assigned a key person who through settling in sessions, profile forms, reports from outside agencies and conversations with you will be aware of any medical or social issues. A good relationship will be developed between your child and their key person which will provide a strong emotional base from which your child can grow and develop. All staff are made aware of any medical issues. We have a Medication Policy where only a qualified member of staff can administer prescribed medicines in front of a witness. A form is filled in detailing time and dosage which is signed by the member of staff and the witness. This is shown to you at handover so you know when and how much has been administered. The SENCo is trained in Behaviour Management and strategies for dealing with behaviours are discussed at weekly staff meetings so that everyone is doing the same. The SENCo has links with the Area InCo and access to the Portage referral forms. Willowdene Nursery School is secure building. The door is coded and only the staff have the code. The garden is secure with a padlocked gates and high fences and is checked daily and after it has been used. All staff have DBS and references are sought when a new member of staff is appointed. Visitors must sign in and out and are never left unsupervised. Mobile phones are forbidden Your child will be given choices as to what they would like to do. This is done visually and verbally using a choice board. A visual timetable is produced that is individual for your child based on their needs, their interests and the routine of the setting.

What specialist services and expertise are avaliable at or accessed by the setting/school/college?

The SENCo has access to the Area InCo who is able to provide support and knows where to go if extra help or advice is needed. The SENCo also has referral forms for Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Portage, the Children’s Centres, Outreach Service and TOPs. Reports from professionals are also sent to the setting.

What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had? Are any being trained currently?

The SENCo has over 20 years experience of working with children and has been SENCo here for one year. During this time she has attended SENCo Induction courses, Introduction to Makaton, and Positive Approaches to Challenging Behaviour courses. In the past here at Willowdene she has worked , alongside the SENCo, with children with speech delays and hearing disorders, and children with social and physical disabilities. Training courses would be undertaken if a child came in and further knowledge was needed. The SENCo regularly attends SENCo support meetings ensuring knowledge is current and up to date.

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

>A pre risk assessment would be carried out to cover travel to the activity as well as the place of activity and the activity itself. The ratios on an outing are half the ratios in the setting. This means that for 2 year olds there would be 1 adult for every 2 children and for 3 year olds there would be 1 adult for every 4 children. If your child needed extra support then 1 –to-1 would be provided. Parents will be invited to come along too and transport would be suitable for your child’s needs. The activity itself would be adapted to be suitable for your child.

How accessible is the setting/school/college enviroment?

We have wheelchair ramps to the front door and the door leading into the garden and the doors are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. There is a button entry to the main room and there is a disabled toilet on site. The areas are colour coded and there is yellow tape on the floor to indicate a change in level. The room is well lit. We are members of the resource library so if any specialist equipment was needed we could get it from there. Makaton signs are displayed in key areas and we also provide visual timetables and choice boards. We are able to accommodate families where English is a second language by producing letters in their home language and having welcome signs up in a variety of languages. Policies and procedures are available on the website. We also are able to link with EMTAS.

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

Before starting at Willowdene you and your child would be invited to attend settling in sessions. These will give your child a chance to learn about the setting and meet the staff that he/she would be with. This is also an opportunity to talk to your child’s key person to discuss your child’s individual needs. When your child is ready to move to school transition meetings would be organised with the parents, Willowdene, the new school and any outside agencies that are working with your child. There we would discuss any special arrangements that your child will need and if needed an Inclusion Partnership Agreement (IPA) would be completed. This would ensure that all parties involved with the transition know what needs to be done and who is responsible for doing it. You and your child would also be invited to the school for story time and meetings are set up for parents and teachers to introduce themselves. A teacher from Four Lanes Infants and Great Binfields comes in to chat with key workers again providing an opportunity to discuss any special arrangements.

How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

Extra staff is provided as needed. This is funded using appropriate grants and SEN funding from Hampshire County Council. The management and SENCo is responsible for applying for this. The SEN funding can also be used to buy specialist equipment. Willowdene is also a member of the SEN lending library where equipment and toys can be borrowed. All toys are accessible to children and are clearly labelled.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

The level of support that your child will receive will depend on his/her needs. This will be decided when your child’s needs are known. The key person and SENCo will get together and choose what area needs to be supported. They will discuss strategies and activities based on your child’s strengths and interests and an IEP will be written. IEPs work by breaking up the target into small, achievable steps. For example, if your child struggles to sit for a story then the first target would be to sit for 30seconds looking at a book based on his/her interests. Once this has been achieved then the time will be increased to 1min and so on until your child is sitting for a whole story. The IEP will also be discussed with you and you will be given a copy. Daily conversations will explore if strategies are working and adapted as necessary. A new IEP will be written when your child has achieved the target. Other types of support could be extra staffing to allow for 1-to-1 or small group activities.

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

We have a parent communication book which you can use to pass on messages. We also have the handover sheets as mentioned before and the Interactive Learning Diary that you can add to from home. You can see your child’s individual play plans and add your own ideas. If you have any specialist knowledge you are welcome to come in and talk to the children.

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5
  • Primary school aged children
Carescheme type:
  • Day nursery

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Last Updated: 28 January 2023

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