“Children develop at their own rates, and in their own ways” taken from Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Families regularly raise concerns with practitioners at Woodstock and most of the time we can allay their fears and explain how this is part of a normal wide range of development. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, however minor, you can raise it with your child’s Key person or the Senior Practitioner in your child’s age group or the Managers, Vicky and Hayley. Vicky is also the Nursery SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator). We are all here to help. We keep track of each child’s personal development through using the guidelines from the EYFS and the Key person observes and gathers information for each child in our care. If this highlights a possible delay the Key person will speak to the family and suggest activities that could be encouraged at home and at nursery to develop this area of development. Similarly, if the family raises concerns the Key person will observe the child closely and then report back to the family and the nursery’s SENCO. With the family, the SENCO will devise a planning sheet highlighting the child’s interests and share it with all practitioners who may work with this child. Two of our practitioners have also completed the level 3 SENCO qualification to support early identification and guide support in the age groups as appropriate. Over time it may be appropriate to involve other specialists or outside agencies, e.g. Speech and Language therapist, Health Visitor, Portage, but this will always be done after full consultation with the family.

By completing regular observations, the Key person will quickly notice if a child is not developing in any particular area. With children under the age of 3 years we are particularly concentrating on the 3 Prime Areas of development, their Personal, Social and Emotional Development, their Communication and Language and their Physical Development. If all these areas progress within the very wide range that is considered ‘normal’ in the EYFS, then other Specific areas, i.e. Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design, will develop naturally as the child grows. Our daily activities continuously encourage the use of language and listening, sharing with and learning to empathise with their playmates and understanding their bodies and their physical abilities. The individual planning carried out by the Key persons is based on the observations of your child over the last month so that there is a continuous circle of Observation, Assessment and Planning. Should the observations indicate that a child is not progressing for their age/stage range then the SENCO, Vicky, will arrange to speak to the family so that together, we can help your child by providing particular activities and putting specific strategies in place.

Through the observations and the Individual Planning, the Key person and SENCO will devise activities around your child’s interests. They will share this information with other practitioners in your child’s age group so that everyone has the same expectations and your child can grow in confidence. Your child’s communications via eyLog (our Parent sharing online platform) will indicate
their successes and give examples of observations and their creative work. All the observations and photographs will be filed in eyLog so you can see their progress and discuss any entries with their Key person at any time. The individual planning for your child is based on the observations over the last month so that there is a continuous circle of Observation, Assessment and Planning.Through the on-going observations and the Individual Planning, the Key person and SENCO will devise activities around your child’s interests. They will share this information with other practitioners in your child’s age group so that everyone has the same expectations and your child can grow in confidence. Your child’s online Learning Journal will indicate their successes and give examples of observations and their creative work. All the information in this online journal is accessible to you at all times, so you can see their progress and discuss any entries with their Key person at any time. The individual planning for your child is based on the observations over the last month so that there is a continuous circle of Observation, Assessment and Planning.

There are regular Parents Evenings at the nursery. These are ‘child free’ occasions where you will meet with your child’s Key person and be able to sit down and concentrate on your child’s progress looking through their observations on eyLog together. The Managers, Hayley and Vicky, will always be available too so that you can immediately raise any questions that you may have after the meeting. This is not the only time that you can talk to any of us. The team works together closely and you can always ask to speak to Vicky or Hayley privately. Allowing for the correct staffing
ratios to be maintained at all times, this may be an immediate meeting, or it will be booked as soon as possible at a time convenient to you and us. There are at least 2 Parent Focus evenings a year. Each session will discuss questions raised by the parents at the meeting or suggestions made from our parents. Subjects can be as diverse as ‘Choosing Your Child’s First School’ to discussions on potty training, sleeping, behaviour and understanding the EYFS so that you can help your child’s learning at home. Parents tell us that they find these meetings empowering as they are able to confidently take control of their child’s behaviour and learning.

Woodstock has a strong family ethos and from your first visit we will want to hear about your child and your family, his/her needs and interests, so that we can start to get to know
each other and plan for your child’s learning. Most importantly, we want you all to be happy and confident in our service, progress will then follow. The Managers will be fully involved in settling your child and ensuring that all the relevant information about his/her needs and preferences are passed onto the right persons; dietary needs passed onto our own in-house Cooks, medical needs properly recorded and behaviour/learning discussed with the Key person and Senior Practitioner in the relevant age group. Medication forms will be completed together so that we can be sure that we are administering treatment according to your GP’s instructions. We are also able to administer homely medicines (paracetamol and ibrufen) and creams providing we have your signed permission in advance. Your child will be safe. The garden is walled and fenced to a height of over 6 foot, both gates securely locked. The front door is locked and only opened by a senior member of the staff team who will then question the visitor if they are not recognised. Your child will only be allowed to leave with you or another adult that you have named on your Emergency Contact Form, and only then if they can give us the correct password. Please ask to see policies on child protection, medication, staff training.

We are proud of the level of staff expertise and experience at Woodstock. Many of the staff are parents themselves and have personal experience of SEND children either through their work or within their own families. The Managers are both Early Years Teachers (EYT). We have regular visits from an Artist and extend creative learning for the children through additional activities of Streetdance and Drumming. For specialist assistance we can contact a variety of professionals, for example, Health Visitors, (with your prior permission,) for help and advice with any behaviour, speech or learning issues. By working together as a team of professionals the best possible care can be found for your child.

The Woodstock team includes 2 EYTs (level 6), 1 Foundation degree (level 5) and the rest of the team are qualified as Early Years Practitioners at level 3 or 2, with others undergoing their level 3 apprenticeship training. The whole team are qualified Paediatric First Aiders and have undergone Safeguarding, Child Protection and Food Safety training. We take full advantage of West Sussex training courses and staff have been on courses for Behaviour Management, Safeguarding, specialist courses for 2 year olds and babies, and courses to develop early communication. Each year we have one whole staff team Saturday training day.

There are activities involving the families, such as an annual Toddle Waddle (some children are in buggies), a Saturday planting day in the garden and Family Tea parties. During the nursery day we sometimes take children off site for walks on the beach or to the park or library; we keep note of which children go so that we can include all children over a period of time. These outings are very dependent on having sufficient staff and other adults to be able to accompany the children to ensure everyone’s safety. We usually go out with ratios of one adult to two children. If we feel that a child’s safety can only be ensured through one to one attention then we would only be able to take that child if enough adults were available. A parent would be very welcome to join the outing and supervise their child. The whole age group will never go out at the same time so no child would feel ‘left out’ when left in the nursery.

Woodstock is a detached house built in the early 1900’s and is not wheelchair accessible. Inside there is the main staircase leading to two of our playrooms plus other steps leading from room to room and to the garden. Outside the majority of the garden is on one level, so we are able to enable access by wheelchair through a side gate if other members of the family are wheelchair users and would like to attend family events at the nursery. We have already welcomed children who are visually impaired and their needs are carefully accessed and minor changes put in place, such as markings on steps to assist the child. We have a practitioner who uses British Sign Language so we could fully integrate a hearing impaired child. Other needs would be accessed on an individual basis with full consultation with the family to ensure that our building is suitable and that we are able to provide the right expertise. Practitioners would access specialist courses at the earliest possibility if this was advised by other professionals involved in a SEN child’s care. We presently have a large number of children at Woodstock for whom English is an additional language (EAL). We take the time to ensure that the families have all the information that they need and may be able to help them to make contact with other parents speaking the same language. We can use the West Sussex Languages page for help with translations into many European and Asian languages.

All children must visit the nursery at least 3 times before starting – these visits can be extended to as many as needed depending on the individual child’s needs. The aim, before
starting, is that we have all the information that we need about the child’s SEN, their diet and medication and the ways that he/she communicates. We will have allocated a Key person and by the time the child starts we will have strived to build a relationship between the child and Key person and at least one other practitioner so that the child will accept ‘comfort’ when needed.
As the child moves through the nursery we will ensure that new relationships are built with practitioners who will take over the main caring role in nursery. This will extend to the whole
family so that you are confident in your child’s care. When the time comes to move onto school we will make contact with the school SENCO as soon as you have the school place confirmed by West Sussex. Together (school, nursery and family) we will agree visits by the school to the nursery and the child to the school until we are all confident that all information has been shared and the child is ready to make the next move in their educational journey. Depending on your child’s particular needs, other professionals named on the child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan may need to be involved in this transition. Information regarding the child’s development will be passed onto the school. During the first term the SENCO from Woodstock will be available for the school SENCO to ask any questions and offer any help to ensure that the transition is smoothly completed.

From September 2014 there were many changes in the ways in which early years settings are able to access resources to support SEN children. The reforms are set out in the Children
and Families Act 2014, and the new SEND Code of Practice: 0-25 years. Further information can be found at this website www.westsussex.gov.uk , on the homepage follow Education, Children and Families, then select SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY (SEND). After an application process we may be able to access a small amount of Inclusion Funding to enable us to support a SEN child in smaller groups.

Please refer to the latest information on the West Sussex website www.westsussex.gov.uk , on the homepage follow Education, Children and Families, then select SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY (SEND). The various headings here will explain the full process from an initial concern to receipt of an EHCP if appropriate.

Parents join us for some nursery outings and also come into the nursery to share interests or information about their jobs with the children, e.g. visits from an airline pilot, a police
officer, a parent to tell the children about Chinese New Year, and a parent to let the children hold and help to bathe her very small baby. On a daily basis, the door is answered by one of the senior team and we are always ready to listen to any concerns that you have or answer any questions. We want you to feel that you are truly part of our nursery family.

If you have any questions about Woodstock and whether this might be the best nursery for your child, please contact the Nursery Manager/SENCO, Vicky. You will be invited along for a
pre-visit with your child, if she/he has SEN then the SENCO and the other Manager, Hayley, will meet with you all. Together we will agree whether we can fully meet your child’s needs
and research the help that may be available. We can both be contacted at Woodstock on 01903 233655 or managers@woodstock-dn.co.uk . Once your child has started at Woodstock you will be able to speak to his/her Key person or the Senior Practitioner of the age group or Vicky or Hayley. Not all the staff work 5 days a week, (many of them have their own families too,) but there will always be someone available to speak to you about any concerns. West Sussex have written their Support for Young People with SEND (Local Offer) as part of a group of Local Authorities known as the SE7, this includes Kent, Medway, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Hampshire and Surrey.