Section 1 - How do you communicate with the parent/carer whose child has SEND?
1a) How they can arrange a visit and/or see you in action?
At Trailway Tots Preschool, all prospective parents and carers are invited to visit us during opening hours to see the setting in action. A visit can be arranged by getting in touch with Gemma (manager) by calling, emailing or contacting us via our Facebook page.
1b) What are some of the things they will see to welcome them to your setting?
When parents and carers first visit us, they will be shown around the setting, both inside and out, by the manager or deputy manager. During this, we shall describe our daily routines, see some of our varied activities in action and discuss the relevant policies. At this point, any individual needs will be discussed and together we shall work out how best to accommodate these. We have excellent relationships with our parents and welcome advice from other professionals who are already involved with the child.
1c) What different ways do you use to communicate with parents?
At Trailway Tots Preschool, we strongly believe in communication being key. There are many forms of communication from the more informal daily chats at pick up and drop off to our termly Tots’ Talks.
Daily: From the initial visit, parents and carers are felt welcomed and it is made clear that at drop off and pick up, they are able to discuss anything with us, if needed, or a time can be made for a private conversation. A member of staff will complete a notice that goes up on the parents’ information board, before pick up, informing them of a few of the activities we have done that day, to provide a starting point for conversation with their children but also the chance to follow up learning at home. Each child has a key worker, and those children with SEND, the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) will also be involved in their development.
Half termly: We use the online journal Tapestry to document observations of the children and track their learning. Parents will be signed up to this once their child starts and receive updates every half term. Parents are encouraged to add their own observations to strengthen the learning bond between preschool and home.
Termly: Formal Tots’ Talk session will be booked in and held with each child’s key worker. At this point, parents will return a questionnaire regarding their child’s
experiences at preschool and home, which will form a key part to the discussions. Next steps to their learning for both at preschool and at home will also be agreed.
Regarding planning, parents receive a newsletter every half term reflecting on the learning made and looking ahead at topics and themes that will be explored. These arise from the children’s interests and key festivities and events that are occurring on the calendar.
Any changed regarding routine or staffing will be emailed out from the manager at the next available opportunity as well as discussed informally at drop off and pick up, if necessary, by an available member of staff.
1d) How can parents contribute or share ideas for you to consider to make communication with you more effective?
Parents have the opportunity to share their own ideas and contribute to the quality of Trailway Tots at our termly Tots’ Talk meetings. At this point, parents can also take home to fill in an anonymous form to complete which can be returned to the parent feedback folder on the noticeboard. This folder is kept out every day and checked daily by the manager. Feedback on the questionnaires are down termly, within a newsletter.
1e) If the parent/carer is unhappy with your provision, what should they do?
If a parent has a concern and is unhappy with the provision that Trailway Tots is offering they can do so in the following ways: In writing: E-mailing the manager or writing a letter addressed to the manager. In person: Parents can make an appointment to have a conversation with the manager to discuss and concerns. If there is an urgent conversation to be had, then this must be done with either the manager or deputy manager.
Key worker: All children will be assigned a key worker within the first week of starting. Parents and children can talk to this member of staff about any worries, if appropriate. Any complaints must be given to the manager, as above. Policies are available on request at the setting and also via email. They are also on a private group page on Facebook.
Section 2 - How will you help to settle the child into your setting?
2a) State some of the things the parent/carer will see when their child first starts at your setting
When a child starts at Trailway Tots Preschool, they will be welcomed by all staff and introduced to the other children throughout the day. Parents can discuss a personal settling in provision to best suit the needs of the individual child and their family. Over the first few sessions, parents will receive text messages to inform them of how their child is settling.
After the first week, children and parents will be informed who their key worker is and are assured that all staff have a role in the learning and development of children, due to being a close-knit team. Our current SENCo is Catherine Moore with Marie Aldous in training to take over. Parents and carers are to contact Gemma Fehrenbach if they are considering joining Trailway Tots, who can then liaise with Catherine and Marie for further information regarding specific care required.
Section 3 - What help and support does your setting offer to SEND children to move rooms or move on to school?
3a) How do you ensure the child is happy and learning as they move from room to room?
At Trailway Tots Preschool, we care for children aged 2-4 years old within the same room. Across the day, we do split those preparing for school from the younger ones to do further differentiated and focussed learning. This is not limited to those starting school the following year and is also dependent on their level of development.
Parents are informed of our daily routines when visiting us prior to signing up as well as in the welcome pack, emailed out to interested parent and carers. We also use the garden daily, where all children are given notice of, by ringing the bell to tidy up before getting coats etc on. Children with SEND will be given further support as and when is needed to ensure a smooth and prepared transition.
3b) How do you ensure the child remains happy and learning as they move from you on to another setting?
When children are preparing to move schools, we use the summer term to show them images of their new school, teachers are invited in to meet the children in a familiar setting and we talk about it within circle time.
For those with special needs, we organise meetings with parents and carers and other professionals as well as the new school to have an open conversation so that the school are clear on the specific needs of the child and appropriate strategies are put into place.
We have good links with the local first schools and several visits can be arranged, where necessary, to ensure the very best transition.
Section 4 - How do you understand and discover how the child learns?
4a) How do you measure the child’s learning to try to discover any additional educational needs they might have?
Every child is observed across the seven areas of learning, not only by their key worker, but by all members of staff. This helps to build a whole picture of the child and discuss any concerns we may have noticed and track to the plan the child’s next steps. We use the online journal Tapestry to record our observations and regularly discuss any delays in development to decide what needs to be put in place to help the child achieve. Parents and carers will then be invited in to a meeting with the key worker and SENCo, at a time that suits, to share our concerns and give them the opportunity to express any concerns they may have and look ahead at the future plan of action.
If a child requires any medication then the parent/carer must discuss the administration which shall be noted in the medicine book and signed for by the parent.
When given, this will be done away from other children by a first aid qualified member of staff and witnessed by a second. All medicines are kept out of reach, safely and accordingly.
4b) How will you make sure that what you are teaching meets the needs of the child?
The key worker and SENCo oversee the plans and next steps in learning for children with SEND whilst all members of staff contribute to the planning and are aware of the next steps for all children. Whilst we have set routines for different parts of the day, all staff have the knowledge, experience and confidence to introduce a new activity as and when is required to ensure the engagement and development of all children.
Whilst all staff work have the opportunity to work with all children, the SENCo and key worked of children with a special need will ensure the individual needs are being met and discuss plans which will be shared with all staff to encourage their next steps. Observations are taken and recorded online and then moderated each half term before publishing to parents ahead of the Tots’ Talk.
We take a focussed child approach, in which staff focus on just one or two children in depth, each week, whilst continuing to observe others across the day. This allows staff to continue to monitor the progress of each child.
4c) How will you make sure that the child is having fun and enjoys learning through play?
At Trailway Tots, we have a variety of exciting learning resource to support the children’s learning. We are also able to contact the local authority to loan us equipment for a short period of time, to support the learning of those children with special needs. We are building up a supply of items to support SEND as and when the need arises, including laptop games, sensory resources and learning sign language across the preschool.
We have good relationships with our parents and children which allows all staff to give children time to communicate verbally or using pictures/puppets to tell us anything at any time. Through stories, songs and circle time we discuss different emotions, how to be a good friend and learn to understand our emotions.
4d) Which experts and other professionals do you liaise with?
here are many experts and professionals Trailway Tots can access to support the need of every child. We have a good relationship our health visitor and local children’s centre and will also consult with speech and language therapists, hospitals, dentists and physiotherapists.
With the parents’ consent, we are able to contact a wealth of professionals to help us achieve the very best for your child. Parents and carers will always be kept informed and part of the referral process. Social Care will also be involved if a situation arises that may involve safeguarding a child or family member.
4e) When some children need a higher level of SEND support how do you go about making sure they get the support they need? Outline your inclusive practice process and specify how you refer to other agencies: LA Early Learning & Inclusion Team, Health Visiting Teams, Children’s Centre, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, CDC, etc
At Trailway Tots Preschool, we work closely together with all agencies/parents and carers to plan achievable next steps for both home and at preschool. For children with higher level of needs we can complete a Poole Early Help Assessment to ensure the family gets the best support.
The SENCo and key worker will meet regularly with everyone involved to share achievements and plan next steps. These will be shared with all staff, where appropriate, to support the individual need.
4f) How do you ensure that the views of parents/carers and children are included in this specialist work?
It is important to us that the views of the parents and carers and children and included in such specialised work. We do so, by ensuring parents and invited to an meeting regarding their child and assure them that we are working as a team, together, to succeed. Any comments from parents/carers and children are recorded and acknowledged.
Section 5 - Inclusive Practice and SEND training and expertise within this organisation
5a) What range of training and expertise do your staff have?
Our SENCo and SENCo in training have undertaken training with the local authority. We have staff trained in Signalong which we use across the setting. The manager is also a qualified and experienced primary school teacher and has planned and taught children with varying needs and ages.
5b) What are the ways in which you fully involve children with SEN and/or disabilities?
Indoor - we are wheelchair accessible into the main hall and through to our smaller hall. The toilet is an accessible toilet off of the main hall. Activities are varied and both at floor and table level to allow all children to access them. Safety is paramount so resources are monitored and checked and altered as and when is required. We always have a range of activities to include the seven areas of learning and across the day cater for the different characteristics of learning. Staff are experienced and confident to making an activity more challenging or simplifying it so children can achieve.
Outdoor - We have a fully accessible, large outdoor garden with a variety of resources to encourage learning. Children are encouraged to be independent, to make up their own games and activities with equipment and nature resources on offer. Support is given as required to extend their learning and enable access to a wide range of play opportunities. We aim to get out daily across the whole year.
Trips out of the setting - risk assessments are paramount to deciding whether a trip beyond the setting will go ahead. All staff are involved in understanding the risk assessment and ratios are adjusted depending on the children attending. We would ask the parents and carers of children with special needs to join us to ensure the upmost safety and to ensure all children can be involved. Such local trips would include walking to the local library and exploring the Trailway.