© Copyright 2016
OUR LOCAL OFFER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND
DISABILITIES
SEND Local Offer
We support children with special educational needs by providing an environment in which all children are
supported to reach their full potential.
We comply with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Equality Act 2010.
We have regard for the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2014).
We ensure our provision is inclusive to all children with special educational needs.
We support parents and children with special educational needs.
We identify the specific needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and meet
those needs through a range of SEN Strategies.
We work in Partnership with parents and other agencies to meet individual children’s needs.
We monitor and review our policy, practice and provision and, if necessary, make adjustments.
We have a designated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) who is Phillipa Wheeler at Westbury
and Samantha King at Bratton
Identifying Children with Special Educational Needs and Disability
Prior to induction you will be given an ’About Me’ sheet to fill in about your child. This will help us to share
information about your child’s strengths and needs.
Every child is treated as a unique individual and each child has a key person. Their role is to develop trusting
relationships with parents and children to enable respectful sharing of information and to build positive
partnerships. If you have any concerns about your child’s development our door is always open and this will
enable you to discuss your concerns.
Alternatively, you can discuss this with the settings SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator)
Westbury site– Phillippa Wheeler
Bratton site - Samantha King
A private room can be made available.
Ongoing observational assessments are made for all children and are linked to the Development Matters ages
and stages of development. This in some cases identifies individual needs. If your child’s key person has
identified a possible individual need, they will discuss this with you. Parents’/carers’ permission will always be
sought to speak to outside agencies and at this point a digitial assesment referal may be completed (DART) to
pinpoint the support needed for that child, and how we as a setting can refer to outside services. Emma
Osmond, Phillippa Wheeler and Samantha King have all received DART training.
Reports from health care professionals may identify a child’s individual needs and we will include these in your
child’s learning and development.
Supporting Children with SEND
We will work together to support individual needs, listening to you and your child.
The (Senco) will explain how children’s individual needs can be met. Individual targets may be set to support
your child’s learning and development. Your child’s key person will work on and oversee these targets. You may
also be given ideas to use at home.
Emma Osmond (Manager) will maintain an overview of progress and the SENCO will work with your child’s key
person and other staff in the setting to ensure we are providing the relevant and appropriate support.
Each child has a Learning Journey which contains examples of their work, photographs, observations and
assessments. The children’s learning styles, interests and stage of development will be recognised and used to
promote achievements and development. Parents’ meetings are held to discuss your child’s progress.
Activities will be adapted to ensure your child is able to interact fully within our environment, and visual
strategies such as a visual time table can be used to help them understand our routines.
Cygnets are able to offer support with personal needs such as nappy changing, toileting, eating and sleeping.
Our environment is accessible to all. We have disabled access via both entrance and exit and a disabled toilet
with hand rails. Resources are easily accessible by children, who have free choice. We will explore any
limitations of the building and would make changes or adapt our facilities where possible.
We have regular contact with other professionals including Early Years Inclusion Advisors, Special Educational
Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Lead Workers, Early Years Advisory Teacher, Health Visitor, Speech and Language
Therapist, Local Children’s Centre, and other Early Years Settings. There are many other professionals who we
can contact regarding a child’s specific individual need.
In some circumstances Inclusion funding can be applied for from Wiltshire Council to support your child in our
setting. We will advise you should your child be eligible for this funding.
Our Senco;s, have completed specific Senco training which is ongoing. Staff have attended training linked to
specific needs and the setting will aim to seek additional training, if appropriate, to meet your child’s needs.
Transition to School/or another setting
We hold meetings to plan transition for your child into school/setting. As well as parents and pre-school staff,
these could include Foundation Stage school teachers, school SENCO, receiving setting staff and relevant
professionals.
We invite receiving school/setting to visit our Pre-School to familiarise and observe the child and to share
information in partnership with parents. We arrange visits into school with familiar adults from our setting.
All necessary documentation will be passed onto the receiving setting/school.
Further Information
If you wish to discuss your child’s needs prior to starting please contact either Special educational needs
coordinators or Emma Osmond (Manager)
You are welcome to discuss concerns or progress with your child’s key person, the Manager or SENCO at any
time.
For more information on Wiltshire’s Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) offer, see the following
website.https://localoffer.wiltshire.gov.uk/
For Parent support contact Wiltshire Parent Carer Council http://www.wiltshireparentcarercouncil.co.uk/
Cygnets staff and Committee welcome your family to visit our Pre-School. We will aim to work together to
include any child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The purpose of a local offer is to enable parents and carers to see clearly what services are available for
children with SEND in their area and how to access them. The following information forms our local offer
and shows how we provide for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
We are incredibly
experienced in caring and supporting children with additional needs, please see information on
additional provision in the policy and our local offer sections of this site. We are committed to help all
children grow in an environment that emphasises, care, kindness and mutual respect.