© 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 embed the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Equality Act 2010 within our everyday practice. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice is entrenched in our daily practice and the support we offer our children and their families.     We ensure our provision is inclusive for all our children. We support our families on the journey of education and signpost them to other agencies who can offer support.  We are quick to 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 reasonable adjustments.       We have a designated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) at each site. Phillipa Wheeler at Westbury and Kate Knight at Bratton, both of which have training to support them in their role. Identifying Children with Special Educational Needs and Disability     When registering with us, you will fill in a registration form, we ask for as much information as possible on this so we can support you in your journey. At your child’s induction you will fill in an entry profile, this gives us information on how best to support your child, for example how to comfort them when they are sad. This will help us to share information within the team, celebrate their strengths and know how to best support their 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– Melissa Hibberd Bratton site – Kate Knight A private room can be made available. Ongoing observations are made during your child’s journey with us, these observations may highlight to us as professionals some concerns with your child. If this is the case this will always be discussed with parents first.   Parents’/carers’ permission will always be sought to speak to outside agencies Reports from other professionals may identify a child’s individual needs and we will include these in your child’s learning and development. A document called a My Support plan or SEN support plan may then be compiled, parents are a big part of this process, along with the child’s voice. More information can be found here about this: https://localoffer.wiltshire.gov.uk/ Supporting Children with SEND  We will work together to support individual needs, listening to you, as the people who know the child best, 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.  The staff team will work on 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 online Learning Journey which contains examples of memorable moments, focus child feedback 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. Personal needs such as nappy changing, toileting, eating and sleeping will always be supported on an individual basis. We want our environment to be accessible to all with reasonable adjustment.  We have disabled access via both entrance and exit and a disabled toilet with handrails. 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 if 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, dependent on the level of need, Inclusion funding can be applied for from Wiltshire Council to support your child in our setting. We will advise you should we think your child may 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 Emma Osmond (Manager) by email or phone. 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/ Cygnets staff and Committee welcome your family to visit our Pre-School.  We will aim to work together to meet the need of 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.
“Staff know the children incredibly well and provide a wholly inclusive environment. Children develop excellent independence skills as they dress themselves for outside play, open packets and containers from their lunch boxes or serve themselves from a selection of vegetables at lunchtime.” OFSTED 2020