Oakengates Nursery School

Our vision for children with special educational needs and disabilities is the same as for all children.  We believe there are no obstacles too great to get in the way of the aspirations we have for our children. Our aim is to focus on learning outcomes as well as supporting greater independence. We want children to achieve well so they go on to lead happy and fulfilled lives.

This Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice plays a vital role and underpins everything we do to support our children. Children’s special educational needs and disabilities will be picked up at the earliest point with support routinely put in place quickly. Children and their parents or carers will be fully involved in decisions about any support and what they want to achieve.  Parents will also know about what services they can reasonably expect to be provided. 

Children learn at different rates and in different ways. We are committed to early identification, assessment and intervention.  We work closely with the local authority and local health partners working together in the best interests of the child.

Children with more complex needs will have an integrated assessment and where appropriate an Education, Health and Care plan will be put in place for their support.

Our SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) reports to the federated governing board annually about our provision for, and progress of, children with SEND. This helps them to scrutinise and monitor this area effectively. Please click here to read our annual SEND report. If you would like to read our SEND policy please click here.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS & DISABILITIES

The definition of SEN:

Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

 Children have a learning difficulty if they:

  1. have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age; or

  2. have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in schools within the area of the local education authority

  3. are under compulsory school age and fall within the definition at (a) or (b) above or would so do if special educational provision was not made for them. 

Children must not be regarded as having a learning difficulty solely because the language or form of language of their home is different from the language in which they will be taught.

The definition of disability:

A person suffers a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse affect or his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Physical impairment includes sensory impairments.

Mental impairment can be learning difficulties or an impairment resulting from or consisting of a mental illness.

Physical or mental impairments can include sensory impairments (such as those affecting sight and hearing) and learning difficulties. This definition also covers certain medical conditions when they have a long-term and substantial effect on pupils' everyday lives. The definition includes a wide range of impairments including hidden impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, Speech and Language impairments, Attention Deficit Disorder

 WHAT DOES SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEND) MEAN?

Some children have needs or disabilities that affect their ability to learn. The areas of need as outlined in the Code of Practice 2015, are:

  • Communication and Interaction

  • Cognition and Learning

  • Social, Emotional & Mental Health

  • Sensory and /or Physical  

AREA OF NEED:

This includes:

Communication and Interaction

 

  • Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

 

Cognition and Learning

 

  • Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) such as Dyslexia, Dycalculia, Dyspraxia
  • Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD) working at a level well below expected
  • Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD) working on upper P scales
  • Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD) Severe and complex learning needs, working at early P scales

 

Social, Emotional & Mental Health

 

  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) such as ADHD, Tourette’s

 

Sensory and /or Physical

 

  • Visual Impairment (VI)
  • Hearing Impairment (HI)
  • Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
  • Physical Disability (PD)

AIMS

Wrockwardine Wood Infant School and Oakengates Nursery Federation aims to include all children, including those with disabilities, in the full life of the school and nursery.

Our strategies to do this will include:

  • Having high expectations of all children.
  • Finding ways in which all children can take part in the full curriculum including sport, music, and drama.
  • Planning activities including all educational visits so that children with disabilities can participate as fully as possible.
  • Setting admissions policy and criteria which do not discriminate against children with disabilities or treat them unfairly.
  • Devising teaching strategies which will remove barriers to learning and participation for children with disabilities.
  • Planning the physical environment of the school to cater for the needs of children with disabilities.
  • Raising awareness of disability amongst staff (teaching and non-teaching) through a programme of training.
  • Providing written information for children with disabilities in a form which is user friendly.
  • Using language which does not offend in all its literature and make staff and children aware of the importance of language
  • Examining our library and reading books to ensure that there are examples of positive images of disabled people.

 IDENTIFICATION and PROVISION

We recognise that it is important to identify any difficulties a child may be experiencing so that early intervention can take place.

Teachers are responsible for the progress and attainment of children. They are able to observe children and identify any concerns they may have regarding a child. Teachers will then develop strategies for supporting children who require additional help. In the first instance this will be through First Quality Teaching. If a child is still experiencing difficulties even after thorough differentiation and outstanding teaching, then further interventions would be put into place. This may be within small groups or on a one to one basis.

If parents have a concern about their child, they are welcome to discuss this at any time with their child’s class teacher or Key person in Nursery.

If a parent or teacher feels that a child has a specific difficulty then the SENCO would become involved and the child may receive further support via other professionals. Children are only added to the SEN register with the full consent of their parents. This additional support would be recorded in the form of an Individual Provision Map (IPM). Further advice and professional support would be sought and implemented to meet the needs of the individual.

Interventions we are currently providing are:

  • Cool Kids movement programme
  • Talking Maths groups
  • Precision reading
  • Nurture Group
  • Speech and Language groups
  • Phonics groups

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT FROM OTHER AGENCIES

Other professionals we are currently involved with who support our SEND children are:

  • Learning Support Advisory Teacher (LSAT)
  • Occupational Therapy Service (OT)
  • Speech and Language Team (SALT)
  • Speech and Language Therapy Inclusion Service (SALTIS)
  • Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) e.g. hearing impaired service
  • Fair Access Panel (FAP)
  • Behaviour Support Team (BST)
  • Children and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
  • RELATEEN Counselling Service
  • Family Intervention Workers
  • Social Care Team
  • Earlybird Autism Team
  • Educational Psychology Service
  • Health Visitors
  • School Nursing Team

RESOURCES

Here is a list of specialist resources that we have available for children to access:

  • Writing slopes
  • Pencils and pencil grips
  • Different types of scissors
  • Wobble cushions
  • Outdoor learning
  • Role-play area
  • Gross and fine motor skills equipment
  • Allotments
  • Ipads
  • Chunky Cutlery
  • Fiddle toys
  • Sensory objects
  • SEN teaching resources
  • Weighted toys
  • ICT programmes- Clicker 7

CURRICULUM

We provide a rich, stimulating and creative curriculum for all children, taking into account approaches to complement their differing learning styles.

Where children have additional needs they will be supported in accessing the full curriculum through specialist resources, careful grouping and additional support from adults.

PLAYTIMES AND LUNCHTIMES

Where children have additional needs they may access one or more of the following playtime or lunch time interventions:

  • One to one adult support
  • Buddy system
  • Lunch time club
  • Early lunch
  • Supported to play in a smaller area of the playground

The catering team offer a wide range of specialist dietary requirement meals e.g. dairy free, and specialist chunky cutlery to develop independence.

All children have fruit provided daily and milk.

TRANSITION

Early Years Foundation Stage

Children joining our Nursery school will undertake a robust induction programme. Over a number of weeks Nursery children will build up to their confidence in the setting, whether they are new to the Nursery or moving rooms.

Where pupils have additional needs on entry to Nursery , this process can last longer and may include more visits to help the children to build strong relationships with new adults. This would be in discussion with parents and other agencies as appropriate. Children with additional needs are supported as appropriate according to their specific needs to enable a successful transition to be achieved.

Transition

When children at Nursery are ready to transfer to their Reception place at school the Nursery invite the teachers from the school to visit the children in our setting so they can find out about them and what they can do. The Day Care Manager will arrange meetings with the SENDCo to ensure they prepare for any additional needs a child may have. Also children may spend a number of sessions with their new teacher in their new classroom and will be joined by their parents for part of this time. Usually children will then spend the first week in September as an induction week settling into their new school. An induction meeting takes place for parents usually led by the Headteacher and during the summer break children may receive some communication from the teacher to keep in touch before their first day at school in September

SEND TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

Executive Headteacher -Mrs Denise Garner

  • Bachelor of Education Honours Degree 
  • National Professional Qualification for Headteachers

SENCO for the Federation- Mrs Hayley McNamee  

  • BA (Hons) Primary Education
  • Post Graduate Certificate for Vulnerable Learners and Inclusion
  • National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination

Early Years SEN Support - Miss Katie Vernon

  • Foundation degree in Early Years 
  • T&W SENCO training Early Years

Hannah Firmstone

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Early Years) 
  • Currently participating in training to achieve The National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination

Link Governor for SEND-Mrs Lisa Parish

The SENCO attends monthly update meetings offered by the local education authority to keep abreast of changes to SEN provision and to network with other professionals.

The SENCO attends regular SENCO conferences provided to ensure our Federation is ready to adapt to new legislative changes by the government. All staff have a wealth of experience of working with children with differing needs whether they be specific learning needs or behavioural needs. Staff have attended a wide variety of courses to enhance the provision we can offer at the Federation

Staff have received training in the following areas:

  • Child Protection and Safeguarding
  • Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
  • Dyslexia
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Behaviour management training
  • Restraint course
  • Lifting and Managing
  • Cool kids training
  • First Aid
  • Diabetes management
  • Asthma management
  • Emotional Health and WellbeingStaff have received training in the following areas:
  • Epi-pen training
  • Emotional Behaviour course
  • Bereavement training
  • Makaton training
  • Sensory Inclusion Hearing course
  • Brain training/ Brain gym
  • ELKLAN training

CHILD AND PARENTS VOICE

We allow daily opportunities for our children to discuss their learning and where they may be experiencing difficulties. This allows clear assessment for learning and for teaching and learning opportunities to be modified in response to the children. It ensures children make rapid progress within every lesson. Children who are on the SEN register have the opportunity to comment on the targets set for them on their Individual Provision Map (IPM). This provides the children with a chance to help develop their own personalised learning programme, discussing strategies that work well for them. We are fully aware that children all learn in different ways and they know themselves best.

We operate an ‘open door’ policy and staff will always make themselves available for any parent who requests a meeting to discuss their child or any concerns they have. Parents and children are welcomed each day and have the opportunity to share any information.

Parents attend induction meetings within Nursery where they can ask any questions they may have or to share information. They attend ‘Stay and Play’ sessions within the Nursery. Parents of children in Nursery have daily opportunities to settle their child to an activity before leaving

  • Parents are invited into nursery on a regular basis to attend:
  • Parents consultation evenings
  • Curriculum workshops
  • Christmas Performances
  • Eating lunch with their child
  • Church services
  • Termly meetings for children to share their profiles.

Parents of children on the SEN register meet the SENDCo regularly to discuss and evaluate the progress towards the targets on their child’s Individual Provision Map (IPM) and their contribution is noted.

For children who have been issued with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), parents also attend an Annual Review of the plan with the SENCO, Head teacher and other professionals involved in the support for their child.

Parents are encouraged to visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk to complete a questionnaire about the school. Support for parents of children with SEN or a disability can access a number of networks through the school website and the link to the Local Authority Local Offer.

TEAM AROUND THE CHILD (TAC)

Sometimes children are vulnerable and a number of professionals will work together to support those children and their families. Regular TAC meetings are held and clearly focussed targets are set so the outcomes for children improve in an appropriate time frame.

PROGRESS AND MONITORING

Staff  monitor and review the progress of all children within their key group. Data is scrutinised by the SENCo, Subject Leaders, the EYFS or KS1 leader and the assessment co-ordinator to ensure that interventions and provision is having a marked impact on learning.

For children on the SEN register, Key Person and SENCO also review and evaluate their IPMs every half term to ensure the targets are being met. If a referral to another professional for further support is necessary, these are completed by class teachers and discussed with the SENCO and parents.

Termly, the link governor for SEND children works with the SENCO to ensure policies are implemented and appropriate provision is in place for all children. The curriculum committee meet termly to monitor the progress of all children in school.

The Headteacher, Learning Mentor, SENCO and Key person meet regularly with other professionals to ensure SEND provision is appropriate and effective.

 At the end of the academic year class teachers pass on relevant information and IPMs to the new class teacher at planned transition meetings.

SEND PROCEDURES

The SEN register operates a graduated response. Children can only be added to the register with the full permission of the parents. All children on the SEN register have an Individual Provision Map (IPM) written for them by the class teacher which identifies targets, strategies to be used to reach these targets and thorough evaluations. These are discussed with parents and monitored by the SENCO every half term.

The graduated response is:

  • SEN Concern- A child is identified as requiring some additional intervention to support progress

  • SEN Support- Class teachers or the SENCO will discuss a child’s needs with a parent and decide what support will be necessary. This will then be provided within school. We can request additional support for a child from another professional and their advice will be acted upon.

    SEN support should arise from a four-part cycle, known as the graduated response, through which earlier decisions and actions are revisited, refined and revised, leading to a growing understanding of the child’s needs and of what supports them in making good progress and securing good outcomes.

     The four stages of the cycle are:

  • Assess

  • Plan

  • Do

  • Review

The graduated response starts at whole school level. Teachers are continually assessing, planning, implementing and reviewing their approach to teaching all children. However, where a potential special educational need has been identified, this cyclical process becomes increasingly personalised:

  • Individualised assessment leads to a growing understanding of the barriers to and the gaps in a child’s learning

  • Continual refection on approaches to meeting the child’s needs leads to a growing understanding of strategies that enable the child to make good progress and achieve good outcomes.

     In this cycle of support, the graduated response draws on more personalised approaches, more frequent review and more specialist expertise in successive cycles in order to tailor interventions to meet the particular needs of our children.

    Request for an Education, Health and Care Plan Assessment- Schools or parents can request an assessment be carried out by the Local Authority if the child continues to experience specific difficulties. Professionals involved with a child’s education would be required to submit evidence to the authority about the individual’s needs and suggest what should be done to meet these needs.

    An Education, Health and Care Plan may be issued following this assessment. It would describe a child’s specific needs and explain how these needs should be met. These are reviewed annually through the Annual Review process.

School staff regularly review all children’s progress and monitor children with concerns. Those children with on-going concerns may be referred to the appropriate agency with the permission of parents. Where children have additional needs they will be supported in accessing the full curriculum.

Individual risk assessments are carried out where appropriate to ensure the safety of children with additional needs.

If concerns still remain following a full intervention programme then the school will request an EHCP assessment by the local authority.

 ACCESSIBILITY

All children with SEND should be able to reach their full potential. This means supporting their access to the school building, the outside environment, the curriculum and the wider school life.

Staff support children with toileting needs as necessary, in conjunction with parents. We are a school that can be easily accessed by wheel chair users. Ramps have been installed to replace steps. The school entrance and fire exits are fully accessible via automatic doors and ramps. The school’s facilities include a toilet for disability. Lights are automatic in the main toilet block. Children who may struggle to access the curriculum are supported by an adult. A variety of resources are provided by the school to ensure children can access the curriculum at an appropriate level. Specialist advice is sought from Haughton Special School and other professionals to ensure accessibility. Please click on the links to see the school's Accessibility Policy, Accessibility Plan and Equality Policy

GLOSSARY

ADHD- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ASD- Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Pupils who may find it difficult to understand and use non-verbal and verbal communication

Dyscalculia- Pupils having difficulty in acquiring mathematical skills

Dyslexia- Pupils having a marked and persistent difficulty in learning to read, write and spell, despite progress in other areas

Dyspraxia- Pupils with impairment of gross and fine motor skills

EHC Plan- Education, Health and Care Plan. A legally enforceable document that describes the special educational needs of the child and how these needs will be met.

HI- Hearing Impaired

MLD- Moderate Learning Difficulties. Pupils whose attainments are significantly below expected levels in most areas of the curriculum

MSI- Multi-Sensory Impairment. Pupils with complex visual and hearing difficulties

PD- Physical Disability

PMLD- Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. Pupils with complex learning needs and other significant physical difficulties

SEN Code of Practice- Practical guidance to LEAs and the governing bodies of all maintained schools

SEN- Special Educational Needs

SEND- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

SENCo- Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

SLCN- Speech, Language and Communication Needs. Pupils may have difficulty in understanding and / or making others understand information conveyed through spoken language

SpLD- Specific Learning Difficulties. (A descriptor covering Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia)

VI- Visually Impaired

Telford and Wrekin SEND Offer

Please click on the link below to see the local authority’s SEND Offer

http://www.telfordsend.org.uk/

 

Information Advice and Support Service (IASS)

Free and impartial support for children and young people aged 0 - 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities and their parent/carers.

http://www.telfordsendiass.org.uk/

Email: info@iass.org.uk

Parents Opening Doors (PODS)

We empower parents and work together with agencies acting as parents voices in shaping services relating to health, education, social care, early years, local authority bodies and government agencies, short breaks, respite care, voluntary organisations, universal services (e.g. libraries, sports centres), town park, leisure services....

Parents Opening Doors (PODS)

Statutory Guidance

Please click below to see the Children and Families Act 2014

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/pdfs/ukpga_20140006_en.pdf

 Please click below to see the SEND Code of Practice January 2015

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/398815/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf

 Please click below to see the guidance about supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions September 2014

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/484418/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf