OUR LOCAL OFFER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES (SEND)
1. How does the Ashenground Pre-school know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs or disabilities?
At Ashenground Preschool, all staff build positive relationships with the children, interacting with them in play and observing their interests. Each child is allocated a key person who carries out ongoing observations and assessments which are linked to the stages of development in the Birth to 5 Matters 2021. This then enables the key person to identify any areas in which children may not be meeting developmental milestones, which they will then discuss with the SENCO, as well as with the parents/carers. Between 2 and 3 years of age, a 2-year-old progress check will take place and this will be shared with parents and health visitors. We encourage parents/carers to share any reports from other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, that may help us in identifying and supporting individual needs. We will then agree on the next steps with the parents. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, these can be discussed in confidence with the SENCO, your child’s key person, or the manager. The SENCO can provide information and advice, as well as liaise with other relevant early years professionals to provide the best support for your child.
2. How will the staff at Ashenground Pre-school support my child?
At Ashenground Preschool, we believe that all children should be given the best possible start and that they should be provided with opportunities that enable them to develop their full potential. This includes children who have additional individual needs, and so we support early intervention from early years professionals, parents/carers and relevant outside agencies in order to help provide the best outcomes. We endeavour to provide a range of high quality learning opportunities to meet the needs of each individual child, and support them and their families throughout their time at Ashenground Preschool. It will be the role of your child’s key person, who will work alongside the SENCO, to plan for their next steps, which are developmental and age-appropriate targets that the key person, with the support of all the staff, will support your child in working towards.
3. How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
Every child at Ashenground Preschool has a secure online learning journal using Tapestry, which contains observations, photographs and some of your child’s work. This will be used by your child’s key person to assess your child, using the Birth to 5 Matters 2021, and then to plan for their next steps. Each child’s next steps will be tailored to their needs, as well as incorporating their specific likes and interests. An Individual Plan will be created by the key person and the SENCO, specifically for your child, to support their learning and development.
4. How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?
At Ashenground Preschool we will track your child’s individual progress through ongoing observations and assessment using Tapestry. We recognise the importance of regular and honest communication with parents/carers and encourage their participation and involvement when planning for their child. We encourage communication between the home and the setting on a day-to-day basis when you drop your child off and when you pick them up. We have an everyday board on display which details what the children have been doing each day when parents pick up and operate an open-door policy. We encourage the sharing of more detailed information of how your child is progressing at home through One Page Profiles, which are filled out by parents/carers to inform the staff of their child’s current likes and interests at home, as well as any recent developments in their learning. Parents/carers are invited to attend regular meetings with the key person and/or outside agencies to ensure they are kept updated with the progress of their child and involved in the plans for their child’s future development.
5. What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?
It is vital that all children are supported in all areas of their development, which includes their wellbeing. Our experienced staff team are friendly and caring and adapt to the individual personal care needs of each child where necessary. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all children. A visual timetable is used every day in the setting to support all children in understanding the daily routines, and additional visual support strategies are available where needed. Where children require regular prescribed medication that cannot be administered solely by the parent/carer, an Allergy/Medical Form must be completed. This will give clear instructions of dosage and administration, as well as giving permission for a member of staff to administer it. Appropriate training may be carried out where necessary. All staff are good role models and encourage positive behaviour throughout the session. However, we understand, in line with our Behaviour Management Policy, that some undesirable behaviour may be the result of certain individual needs. In this instance, your child’s key person and the SENCO will work with you, your child and the staff to provide a consistent approach to supporting the improvement of behaviour.
6. What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by Ashenground Pre-school?
All staff are experienced in working within the early years environment and have a good understanding of childhood development. We have a good link with our Early Years Childcare Advisor and work with them to provide you with support from relevant professionals, such as Speech and Language Therapists. Your child’s key person, the SENCO and the Manager will work in partnership with these professionals, with parental permission, to fully support your child.
7. What training have the staff, supporting children with SEND, had or are they having?
The staff at Ashenground Preschool are committed to Continuing Professional Development, which includes attending relevant and current training. All staff hold a current Paediatric First Aid Certificate, and some members of staff have attended communication and language training, including the use of visual supports. Relevant training will be carried out to support specifically identified needs.
8. How will my child be included in activities outside the early years setting including trips?
All outside activities and local walks will be planned according to the needs of all children, to ensure they are inclusive. The manager/supervisor will visit the site prior to the trip to carry out a risk assessment and to assess the suitability of the venue for children with specific individual needs. Parents/carers will be involved in the planning of outings and will be invited to join us on the trip. Any aides or medication required by your child will be taken on the outing.
9. How accessible is the Ashenground Pre-school environment? (Indoors and Outdoors)
Ashenground Preschool is an OFSTED registered setting, open term time only. We offer a Breakfast Club on Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 9.30am. Our opening hours are 9.30am until 3.00pm Monday, Thursday and Friday and 9.30am until 12.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. We cater for children from 2-5 years. We meet in a community hall which is accessible from our garden area or via a disabled ramp into the hall. There is also a disabled toilet. The hall is set out in areas and children are able to access all areas, which are labelled with clear pictures. We use a range of visual support for the setting, including a visual timetable. At Ashenground Preschool we encourage strong communication between the parents/carers and staff, therefore it is important that communication is supported with parents whose first language is not English. We do this by encouraging them to nominate a representative who speaks English. We have a range of sensory equipment, and where possible seek to provide equipment to support individual children with special educational needs.
10. How will Ashenground Pre-school prepare and support my child to join the setting/transfer to a new setting or school?
When a child starts at Ashenground Preschool, or transfers to us from another setting, a meeting will be arranged with the family and professionals involved to discuss the best way forward, and how we can best support your child. We ensure that we understand your child’s individual needs and any additional requirements, such as specialist equipment and/or training. We welcome and encourage all who are involved with the child and their family to visit us and support multi-agency meetings. Where possible and with your permission, we will visit your child in their current setting, to meet them and observe them in an environment that is familiar to them. We offer a familiarisation visit to all children, which allows them to visit Ashenground Preschool with their parent(s)/carer(s). We are flexible in our settling in period and aim to tailor it to your child’s specific needs, to allow them to settle in as quickly and easily as possible. When children move on to school, or if they transfer to another setting, strong communication will be encouraged between the SENCO and key person from Ashenground Preschool, the relevant practitioner from the new setting, and the parents/carers. The relevant staff member will be invited to visit your child at Ashenground Preschool, to enable your child to meet them in a familiar environment, and to enable the practitioner to observe your child’s individual needs within the setting. A copy of your child’s learning journal, which will contain all relevant information, will be passed on to their new setting, with your permission. We have strong links with the local primary schools and provide transition visits for all children in the summer term before they start school.
11. How are Ashenground Pre-school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
At Ashenground Preschool, where relevant and eligible we are able to claim Free Entitlement Funding for two, three and four year olds, as well as Inclusion Funding. We also have a budget for relevant staff training, as well as for equipment where there is an individual or whole setting need.
12. How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
The type and amount of support required will be identified by the SENCO and key person, through the observation, assessment and planning cycle linked to the Development Matters ages and stages of development. Where needed, appropriate support will be decided on and put into place, in partnership with parents/carers and other professionals. An Individual Plan will be developed by the key person and SENCO, along with contributions from parents/carers and other professionals where relevant. This will enable your child’s development to be supported consistently at home and in the setting, and will be monitored and reviewed regularly, alongside regular observations. You are invited to work closely with the SENCO and your child’s key person to be involved in all aspects of planning for your child’s development.
13. How are parents involved at Ashenground Pre-school? How can I be involved?
We value and encourage the involvement of all volunteers at Ashenground Preschool, in the planning for your child’s next steps and also in other areas. We are happy for parents to come in as volunteers as well as other members of the community. For safeguarding purposes, all volunteers will have to undergo a DBS check. This allows you to observe your child whilst at Ashenground Preschool. We encourage parents to form a strong community, and welcome involvement in fundraising ideas and activities. We have a parent representative on our Preschool Committee.
14. Who can I contact for further information?
For further information or to discuss any concerns about your child please contact the Manager Eva Sims, on 07591309509 or ashengroundspreschool@gmail.com. All staff members have a role in the education of all children within the setting and we have an open door policy. You are more than welcome to talk to any member of staff, including the Manager, SENCO, or your child’s key person at any time. If you want a more formal meeting or a particular staff member is unavailable, we will make an appointment for you to meet at a convenient date and time.
The West Sussex County Council Local Offer can be found at https://westsussex.local-offer.org/
1. How does the Ashenground Pre-school know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs or disabilities?
At Ashenground Preschool, all staff build positive relationships with the children, interacting with them in play and observing their interests. Each child is allocated a key person who carries out ongoing observations and assessments which are linked to the stages of development in the Birth to 5 Matters 2021. This then enables the key person to identify any areas in which children may not be meeting developmental milestones, which they will then discuss with the SENCO, as well as with the parents/carers. Between 2 and 3 years of age, a 2-year-old progress check will take place and this will be shared with parents and health visitors. We encourage parents/carers to share any reports from other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, that may help us in identifying and supporting individual needs. We will then agree on the next steps with the parents. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, these can be discussed in confidence with the SENCO, your child’s key person, or the manager. The SENCO can provide information and advice, as well as liaise with other relevant early years professionals to provide the best support for your child.
2. How will the staff at Ashenground Pre-school support my child?
At Ashenground Preschool, we believe that all children should be given the best possible start and that they should be provided with opportunities that enable them to develop their full potential. This includes children who have additional individual needs, and so we support early intervention from early years professionals, parents/carers and relevant outside agencies in order to help provide the best outcomes. We endeavour to provide a range of high quality learning opportunities to meet the needs of each individual child, and support them and their families throughout their time at Ashenground Preschool. It will be the role of your child’s key person, who will work alongside the SENCO, to plan for their next steps, which are developmental and age-appropriate targets that the key person, with the support of all the staff, will support your child in working towards.
3. How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
Every child at Ashenground Preschool has a secure online learning journal using Tapestry, which contains observations, photographs and some of your child’s work. This will be used by your child’s key person to assess your child, using the Birth to 5 Matters 2021, and then to plan for their next steps. Each child’s next steps will be tailored to their needs, as well as incorporating their specific likes and interests. An Individual Plan will be created by the key person and the SENCO, specifically for your child, to support their learning and development.
4. How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?
At Ashenground Preschool we will track your child’s individual progress through ongoing observations and assessment using Tapestry. We recognise the importance of regular and honest communication with parents/carers and encourage their participation and involvement when planning for their child. We encourage communication between the home and the setting on a day-to-day basis when you drop your child off and when you pick them up. We have an everyday board on display which details what the children have been doing each day when parents pick up and operate an open-door policy. We encourage the sharing of more detailed information of how your child is progressing at home through One Page Profiles, which are filled out by parents/carers to inform the staff of their child’s current likes and interests at home, as well as any recent developments in their learning. Parents/carers are invited to attend regular meetings with the key person and/or outside agencies to ensure they are kept updated with the progress of their child and involved in the plans for their child’s future development.
5. What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?
It is vital that all children are supported in all areas of their development, which includes their wellbeing. Our experienced staff team are friendly and caring and adapt to the individual personal care needs of each child where necessary. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all children. A visual timetable is used every day in the setting to support all children in understanding the daily routines, and additional visual support strategies are available where needed. Where children require regular prescribed medication that cannot be administered solely by the parent/carer, an Allergy/Medical Form must be completed. This will give clear instructions of dosage and administration, as well as giving permission for a member of staff to administer it. Appropriate training may be carried out where necessary. All staff are good role models and encourage positive behaviour throughout the session. However, we understand, in line with our Behaviour Management Policy, that some undesirable behaviour may be the result of certain individual needs. In this instance, your child’s key person and the SENCO will work with you, your child and the staff to provide a consistent approach to supporting the improvement of behaviour.
6. What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by Ashenground Pre-school?
All staff are experienced in working within the early years environment and have a good understanding of childhood development. We have a good link with our Early Years Childcare Advisor and work with them to provide you with support from relevant professionals, such as Speech and Language Therapists. Your child’s key person, the SENCO and the Manager will work in partnership with these professionals, with parental permission, to fully support your child.
7. What training have the staff, supporting children with SEND, had or are they having?
The staff at Ashenground Preschool are committed to Continuing Professional Development, which includes attending relevant and current training. All staff hold a current Paediatric First Aid Certificate, and some members of staff have attended communication and language training, including the use of visual supports. Relevant training will be carried out to support specifically identified needs.
8. How will my child be included in activities outside the early years setting including trips?
All outside activities and local walks will be planned according to the needs of all children, to ensure they are inclusive. The manager/supervisor will visit the site prior to the trip to carry out a risk assessment and to assess the suitability of the venue for children with specific individual needs. Parents/carers will be involved in the planning of outings and will be invited to join us on the trip. Any aides or medication required by your child will be taken on the outing.
9. How accessible is the Ashenground Pre-school environment? (Indoors and Outdoors)
Ashenground Preschool is an OFSTED registered setting, open term time only. We offer a Breakfast Club on Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 9.30am. Our opening hours are 9.30am until 3.00pm Monday, Thursday and Friday and 9.30am until 12.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. We cater for children from 2-5 years. We meet in a community hall which is accessible from our garden area or via a disabled ramp into the hall. There is also a disabled toilet. The hall is set out in areas and children are able to access all areas, which are labelled with clear pictures. We use a range of visual support for the setting, including a visual timetable. At Ashenground Preschool we encourage strong communication between the parents/carers and staff, therefore it is important that communication is supported with parents whose first language is not English. We do this by encouraging them to nominate a representative who speaks English. We have a range of sensory equipment, and where possible seek to provide equipment to support individual children with special educational needs.
10. How will Ashenground Pre-school prepare and support my child to join the setting/transfer to a new setting or school?
When a child starts at Ashenground Preschool, or transfers to us from another setting, a meeting will be arranged with the family and professionals involved to discuss the best way forward, and how we can best support your child. We ensure that we understand your child’s individual needs and any additional requirements, such as specialist equipment and/or training. We welcome and encourage all who are involved with the child and their family to visit us and support multi-agency meetings. Where possible and with your permission, we will visit your child in their current setting, to meet them and observe them in an environment that is familiar to them. We offer a familiarisation visit to all children, which allows them to visit Ashenground Preschool with their parent(s)/carer(s). We are flexible in our settling in period and aim to tailor it to your child’s specific needs, to allow them to settle in as quickly and easily as possible. When children move on to school, or if they transfer to another setting, strong communication will be encouraged between the SENCO and key person from Ashenground Preschool, the relevant practitioner from the new setting, and the parents/carers. The relevant staff member will be invited to visit your child at Ashenground Preschool, to enable your child to meet them in a familiar environment, and to enable the practitioner to observe your child’s individual needs within the setting. A copy of your child’s learning journal, which will contain all relevant information, will be passed on to their new setting, with your permission. We have strong links with the local primary schools and provide transition visits for all children in the summer term before they start school.
11. How are Ashenground Pre-school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
At Ashenground Preschool, where relevant and eligible we are able to claim Free Entitlement Funding for two, three and four year olds, as well as Inclusion Funding. We also have a budget for relevant staff training, as well as for equipment where there is an individual or whole setting need.
12. How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
The type and amount of support required will be identified by the SENCO and key person, through the observation, assessment and planning cycle linked to the Development Matters ages and stages of development. Where needed, appropriate support will be decided on and put into place, in partnership with parents/carers and other professionals. An Individual Plan will be developed by the key person and SENCO, along with contributions from parents/carers and other professionals where relevant. This will enable your child’s development to be supported consistently at home and in the setting, and will be monitored and reviewed regularly, alongside regular observations. You are invited to work closely with the SENCO and your child’s key person to be involved in all aspects of planning for your child’s development.
13. How are parents involved at Ashenground Pre-school? How can I be involved?
We value and encourage the involvement of all volunteers at Ashenground Preschool, in the planning for your child’s next steps and also in other areas. We are happy for parents to come in as volunteers as well as other members of the community. For safeguarding purposes, all volunteers will have to undergo a DBS check. This allows you to observe your child whilst at Ashenground Preschool. We encourage parents to form a strong community, and welcome involvement in fundraising ideas and activities. We have a parent representative on our Preschool Committee.
14. Who can I contact for further information?
For further information or to discuss any concerns about your child please contact the Manager Eva Sims, on 07591309509 or ashengroundspreschool@gmail.com. All staff members have a role in the education of all children within the setting and we have an open door policy. You are more than welcome to talk to any member of staff, including the Manager, SENCO, or your child’s key person at any time. If you want a more formal meeting or a particular staff member is unavailable, we will make an appointment for you to meet at a convenient date and time.
The West Sussex County Council Local Offer can be found at https://westsussex.local-offer.org/