Local Offer

The questions and answers below have been written to represent our common values and practices.

1. How does the early years setting know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child has special educational needs?

All staff are committed to early identification of special educational needs. Every child in our setting has a Learning Journal from the start of their nursery journey. This is a shared document between key person and parent/carer where we record information about their child. Observations, photographs and next steps are kept within the folder and this information provides us with an overview of the child’s developmental progress.

If you have a concern about your child’s progress or believe they have a special educational need, this can be discussed with the Nursery Manager or child’s key person. Additional assessment or support can then be discussed with the SENCO/INCO (Sarah Gercke).

2. How will early years setting staff support my child?

The SENCO/INCO works closely with the manager and with all practitioners within the setting, has responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the setting’s SEND Policy, for coordinating provision across the setting and for supporting colleagues in all aspects of their work with children with SEND.

All staff attend training to maintain and enhance their CPD (continuous professional development) and our nursery SENCO/INCO attends relevant training which enables her to support the staff team if any concerns are raised about a child.

Nicola Roberton (Davison High School for Girls SENCO) can also be contacted for support and advice.

With parental permission, we are able to contact the Early Help team should we need additional support to meet your child’s needs.

3. How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage guidelines set by the Government in addition to planning and implementing activities that meet individual child’s interests and needs.

We ensure that we incorporate the seven areas of learning for each child and provide a wide range of resources and opportunities both indoors and out.

4. How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me support my child’s learning?

Our staff team continuously communicate with all parents/carers about their child’s learning and interests every day. In addition to this, once a term the child’s key person will discuss your child’s next steps with the parent/carer and this provides an opportunity to share how you both wish for your child to move forward with their development/progress.

We hold parent evenings for both you and your child, to view the setting in an informal atmosphere, where you are able to meet all the staff team and discuss any issues/concerns you may have.

We encourage you to view and add relevant information to your child’s Learning Journal at any time.

Parents are welcome to make an appointment with any member of staff should they wish to discuss anything in more detail.

5. What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?

As written in our Care, Learning and Play Policy, Davison Day Nursery is committed to meeting the individual needs of all children. We provide experiences to support their physical, social, emotional and intellectual development in a warm, caring, secure environment. Adequate sleep and rest requirements are met daily.

We provide healthy snacks twice a day and use Zebedee’s Lunch Box (zebedees.co.uk) who provide nutritionally balanced lunches. Our Food Champion (Katie Smith) works closely with parent/carers to ensure that all dietary needs are catered for.

Within our staff team, we have a Mental Health Champion (Kirstin Slater), who enables all staff to support the well-being of the children within our care, to build towards developing good emotional balance.

The nursery maintains a high standard of care at all times. Daily checks are carried out to ensure all equipment and areas of play are clean and well maintained and risk assessments are regularly updated. The nursery requires the completion of our registration documentation upon starting with us, which provides us with your child’s dietary, health and developmental needs. We ensure all details are kept safe and secure in accordance with data protection and confidentiality policies.

There is always a trained first aider on site and all our staff have undertaken training on Child Protection. Medication can be administered on signed authorisation from the parent.

6. What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the early years setting?

We use the ‘graduated approach’ which helps us to decide on the levels of support and type of action to be put in place for your child.

Within the nursery setting we have a named Behaviour Management Practitioner (Juliette Reynolds) and a Managing Behaviour Policy (incorporating Social and Emotional Development).

Our SENCO/INCO attends regular meetings with West Sussex County Council and cascades relevant information to the staff team.

We regularly access the Children and Family Centre and have links with the local primary schools and library. We have regular visits from The Book Bus, Little Lingos Fun with French, small group sessions with Paula Barnes (Early Years Teacher Advisor), and the ongoing support and guidance from our Early Years Support Co-ordinator.

Nora Young (Early Years Consultant) who specialises in the development of communication, reading and writing within the whole setting, regularly visits the nursery to support staff and to deliver in-house training.

Joanne Davison works within the setting, supporting staff with the use of British Sign Language (BSL), in addition to her role as Fun and Fitness coordinator. Joanne is deaf and lip reads.

We are able to use the expertise of the Early Help team, Portage and Home Start with parental permission, who can support us, the child and the family with any additional needs.

7. What training are the staff supporting children with SEND, had or are having?

All staff attend Early Years Foundation Stage training and additional training recommended to us by outside agencies/or relevant to current individual health/medical needs. Relevant information is cascaded to staff involved in the care of your child. We welcome any professional into our setting who can advise and give additional support and strategies to our staff team.

8. How will my child be included in activities outside the early years setting including trips?

All children with consent from parent/carer will be included in any activity/outing taking place outside our setting with appropriate consideration to enable every child to experience the activity to the full.

We are fortunate to be able to use Davison School Dance Studio and Gym to take part in various activities throughout each term in addition to outings such as the beach, the park and the library

9. How accessible is the early years setting environment (Indoors and outdoors)

Davison Day Nursery is a purpose built, single storey building on the site of Davison C of E High School for Girls. We offer a disabled parking space and a wide pathway to our main entrance. We have a disabled toilet facility. Each room has a ramp which leads into the nursery gardens providing access for wheelchair users. We are able to make reasonable adaptions to allow any child to experience all activities on offer.

10. How will the early years setting prepare and support my child to join the early years setting, transfer to a new setting/school?

All children are offered flexible settling in visits prior to starting at the nursery. All new children are provided with an ‘All About Me’ form and a ‘Welcome to….’ information sheet, outlining the various activities/routines on offer in the room they will be based in.

We photograph staff and children during the child’s settling visit which can be provided to help a child with the transition.

We liaise closely with additional settings that the child may attend and with parental consent, share relevant information.

We also have close links to the local primary schools and welcome visits from new teachers who wish to visit children who will be starting school. Any information required is discussed prior to start dates and any relevant paperwork/transition forms are forwarded to the school.

11. How are the early years setting’s resources allocated and matched to the children’s special educational needs?

All areas of the nursery are well-resourced and equipment is age appropriate.

Staff plan activities and equipment around the children’s current interests and developmental abilities, to ensure all children’s experiences are full of learning through a play based environment.

12. How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?

The SENCO/INCO will work closely with the family and outside agencies to ensure your child is receiving all the additional support required.

13. How are parents involved in the early years setting? How can I be involved?

We have an open door policy at the nursery and welcome parents to be involved. We send out parent/child questionnaires annually (incorporating the ‘Child’s voice), and address any issues/concerns that are raised from these. In addition, we welcome any feedback, positive or negative and aim to act upon any issues raised. Complaints can be made to the Nursery Manager or taken to the Chairperson of our Voluntary Management Committee (Pauline Smith).

We have a Working with Parents Policy and we encourage parents to consider a place on the Nursery Committee should a place arise.

We invite parents to regular meetings in connection with their child and to attend social events such as parent’s evening and Christmas celebrations.

14. Who can I contact for further information?

Please contact the Nursery Manager (Louise Payne) who will be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you may have. An appointment can be arranged for you to visit our setting and add your child’s name to our waiting list if a place is required.

Details of our fees, admissions, induction, transition and Free Entitlement (FE) can be found on our website under the heading Prospectus.

Our SENCO/INCO is also available if you wish to discuss any concerns or development needs for your child.

For further information please contact the Family Information Service on 01243 777807

Revised January 2021

‘Local Offer’ for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities