How do you communicate with the parent / carer whose child has SEND?
At Little Beans we have an open-door ethos where we welcome parents and carers to speak to their key worker, the SENCo or a manager, should they have any questions, concerns or share information that they may have regarding the needs of their child. The easiest way for parents and carers to arrange this, is to speak to the office by telephone or email. All our contact information can easily be found on our website: www.littlebeansdaycare.com.
At a viewing, a member of management will give the parent or carer a tour of the setting, providing information on all aspects of the provision including routines, learning and development opportunities, how we promote healthy eating and the activities on offer. The parents or carers will also be given a prospectus that includes all other important information, including session times and costs, as well as a registration form.
At Little Beans we have a key person system, when each child starts, they are allocated a member of the team who will monitor, develop, and plan each area of their learning. This person will form a special relationship with each child to ensure they are settled and developing well. They will work with this child every session ensuring resources are available to encourage their next steps. Observations are made and linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS) within their own personal and secure electronic learning journey, which only parents or carers can access, with a specific password only for their child’s journal. This allows the key person to monitor any areas of concern and be able to communicate with parents. The key person system is explained at the initial viewing visit to the setting and at the child’s first settle we ensure their key person is present and is introduced to the parent.
This is also an opportunity for the parent and key person to discuss any specific needs including routines, comforters, and dietary requirements. We aim to ensure that the key person and parents/carers build up an effective partnership based on trust and mutual respect so that the child can achieve the best possible outcomes. We also have parent consultation evenings biannually, allowing keyworkers to share development and learning with parents or carers. Managers and Leaders are always on hand to support and discuss any concerns. Key persons are given the opportunity to discuss key children with managers at monthly supervisions, staff meetings and private day to day conversations.
How do you help children settle into your setting?
When a child joins us at Little Beans, we want to ensure that the process is positive for everyone involved. We encourage parents to bring the child with them on their first visit as this is a good indication of whether the setting is right for them. Once the registration form has been completed and their place has been confirmed, we will arrange settling-in sessions for the child to get used to the setting, their keyworker, the staff and encourage separating from their parents. These are usually two-hour sessions that take place a couple of weeks before their start date.
We normally encourage at least two settling in sessions; however, this can vary depending on the child’s age and stage of development. We will always discuss this with the parents and decide what is best for them. Before these sessions begin, the child is assigned a key person who will prepare their learning journal. They will also read the ‘All about me’ in the registration form to gain some information about the child. At the first settle, the key person will talk with the parent to gain as much information as possible to ensure a happy settle in session. We encourage the parent to leave the child for a short time but ensuring that they are close by if needed. The setting’s SENCo is available to discuss any concerns or specific arrangements to meet the needs of the child, including health and care plans, other professionals involved and any reasonable adjustments that are required.
What help and support does your setting offer to children with SEND as they move rooms or move on to school?
We want to make all transitions and moves as positive and smooth for children and their families. Children that will be moving from the baby room into the preschool room will have support from their keyworker and we discuss this process with parents or carers. The child is allocated a new keyworker and settling in sessions into the preschool room are arranged for a day which they attend the setting on, with the new keyworker. Parent and carers are encouraged to meet their new keyworker and share relevant information with them before the child starts their transition.
When children are preparing to leave for school, we ensure that parents are kept informed of the process and have an active part in sharing the relevant information with the school that their child is going to be attending. Depending on the needs of the child and the information that would need to be passed over to the new school, the setting ensures that this information is able to be shared appropriately, including if required, meetings with the school SENCO, teacher, parents and, nursery SENCO or key person. If other professionals are involved in meeting the needs of the child, and it is appropriate, they may also be invited to attend the school transition meeting.
How do you find out how each child likes to learn?
Each child is unique and therefore their teaching and learning should be tailored to meet their individual needs. It is the responsibility of their key person to ensure that their development is being tracked, next steps are being set and any concerns are being looked at to see if any additional support is required. If additional support is required, we will always discuss our concerns with the parents or carers either in a private discussion or meeting, working in partnership with them to follow the appropriate steps.
This may include support from the local authority early years’ team and/or other outside agencies. Children are always encouraged to share their ideas and given choices to promote independence in their day-to-day routines and activities with their keyworker and peers.
Inclusive practice / SEND training and expertise within this organisation
Setting Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo): Training Programme January – September 2017 Signalong SSW mentoring Inclusion Briefings Portage Poole Early Help Assessment Wellcomm assessment Special Educational Needs and Disability Cohort Tracking Educational, Health and Care Plan training. Parents are encouraged, and can be referred where possible, to attend specific training that may help or better equip them in meeting the needs of the child.
The information in this SEND Local Offer was completed on