Special Needs Local Offer

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities: Local Offer

Key Staff:

Manager SENCO / ENCO (Educational Needs Officer): Sarah McGladrigan. BA (HON); EYTS

Deputy Managers: Gemma Masheter, Kayleigh Field, Dean Vella

Cliff House works closely with the LEA to meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and / or disabilities.

Our Key Staff and Age Groups are organised as follows:

Deputy Managers: Gemma Masheter and Kayleigh Field

Baby Room: 0 - 23 months Room Leader: Lisa Vella

Play Room: 24 – 36 months Room Leader: Lauren Kearns

School Room: 37 – 60 months Room Leader: Dean Vella / Deputy SENCO

FAQs

How does our environment meet the needs of children with SEND?

The building is wheel chair accessible: Ramp to side entrance and ramps to both exits leading to garden.
The ground floor rooms are all at the same level with smooth surfacing to allow easy use of a wheel chair.
All large pieces of furniture have castors to allow quick and easy reorganization of layout.
Low Level seating and tables for easy access to activities
Large play area which is easy to negotiate with a wheel chair
Height adjustable seating and play surfaces
Floor level activity areas
Playground covered in artificial grass, making it safe for children with mobility issues
Visual Time Tables and objects of reference used to aid understanding
Activities are differentiated to meet the needs of children with SEND
Key Staff have training and experience in working with children with a variety of SEND (Special Educational Needs)
Parents can pull on to the drive to allow safe and easy access to the nursery
All areas are well lit

How do we identify children with SEND?

Referral made by Children’s Centre
Through our own observations and evaluations, tracking and recording children’s development in the Learning Journeys
Referrals and/or concerns raised by other professionals: Health Visitor; Speech and Language; Portage; etc.
Concerns raised by parents

How can parents raise/share their concerns with us?

Through face to face discussion at any time during the day
During the initial enrolment process
By email [email protected]
By telephone 01772 795368
Through our nursery APP
In writing

How do we access support?

If a child has a clear and obviously identifiable need on enrolment which we feel requires additional advice and support, we will seek parental permission to send a Request for Guidance to the IDSS (Inclusion Disability & Support Service)
Through discussion and agreement with parents. Initially we will monitor the child and develop a Targeted Learning Plan

How do we keep parents up to date?

Parents are kept up to date with their child’s progress and development through regular communication with the child’s Key Worker and the SENCO.
Reports and thoughts from any other agencies are shared with parents on an ongoing basis.
Parents concerns, ideas and issues are taken in to account when planning teaching and Learning activities.
The office is available to enable staff and parents to have confidential discussions
The SENCO and Key Workers are available to speak to parents throughout the day – either in person or by telephone

Teaching & Learning

Teaching and Learning is developed within Cliff House taking a child centered approach.
An initial baseline assessment is made within the first 3 weeks of attendance. This is formulated taking in to account: parents’ thoughts, observations and concerns; observations noted by staff; input and / or reports from other agencies; any concerns / anxieties and opinions expressed by the child.
Children are continually monitored using written observations and photographs. This evidence is then collated each term to produce a ‘Tracker’. The tracker monitors the child’s progress through the EYFS.
Based on the child’s progress and development, the child’s Key Worker will plan activities to meet the ‘Next Steps’ for the following term.
In addition, children with SEND have Targeted Learning Plans in place which are written taking in to account the advice from the SENCO and any other professional agencies involved with the child.
Targeted Learning plans are shared with parents to support and consolidate development
Information is shared with parents in a variety of ways: in person within the nursery; by email; telephone; and in writing.
A parent information board and information leaflets are displayed and easily accessible within the nursery.
Regular news letters are sent home to keep parents updated generally
The SENCO (Sarah McGladrigan) and the child’s Key Worker will attend meetings alongside parents and outside agencies to support children with SEND
Every effort is made to guide and advise parents through the complexities of managing the educational and care needs of children with SEND
A wide variety of resources are available to, and are safe for, all children.
Sensory toys / equipment: Dark Den; Light up toys; Vibrating Toys; Chewable Toys; Enclosing / enveloping resources such as dens, bean bags, blankets, tents, etc.
A peripatetic music specialist visits the nursery once a week to provide activities which are appropriate and accessible to all children
Trips involving transport are planned taking in to account the individual needs of each child. Wheel chair accessible transport and safety seating are used at all times.
Appropriate staffing levels are planned to meet the needs of all individual children
Parent support is invited

When a child is enrolled at Cliff House

Parents are asked to complete an ‘All About Me’ document before their child commences nursery. Giving staff an insight in to the child’s home language; family dynamic; health concerns; cultural / religious practices; current level of development; etc
Through discussion and ongoing assessment, a series of taster visits are planned and actioned where the child will initially be accompanied by the parent/carer and leading to short independent visits.
A named member of staff is allocated to support the child’s transition to nursery.

When a child is transitioning to a new setting

A series of transition visits are planned when the child is transfer to a new setting.
Transition meetings are held with Parents and new providers to plan for the child’s educational needs and access arrangements
Reports, observations, plans and tracking are passed on to the new provider

Staff Qualifications and Experience

Sarah McGladrigan: Btec; BA (HON); Early Years Teacher Status.

Role: Manager - SENCO / ENCO
Experience: Sarah has been the manager at Cliff House Nursery since 1990. Consequently, she has developed extensive knowledge and experience of working with children with a variety of SEN, including Autistic Spectrum Disorders; visual impairment; hearing impairment; speech and language delay; Downs Syndrome; physical disability; Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. Sarah has accessed additional training in ‘Sign Along’; PEX; Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Speech and Language Development

Kayleigh Field: NVQ Level 3

Role: Deputy Manager
Experience: Kayleigh initially trained at Cliff House in 2003 - 2005. She then re-joined the team in 2005 as Co-Deputy Manager
Additional Training: First Aid; Safeguarding; CAF; Food Hygiene; S.E.N.

Gemma Masheter: NVQ Level 3

Role: Deputy Manager
Experience: Gemma has worked at Cliff House since 2003. Beginning as an apprentice and working her way up to Deputy Manager
Additional Training: First Aid; Safeguarding; CAF; Food Hygiene; S.E.N.

Dean Vella: NVQ Level 3

Role: Assistant SENCO; Deputy Manager / Pre-School Room Leader
Experience: Dean has been a qualified Nursery Nurse since 2008. Doing part of his initial training with us and joining Cliff House as a permanent member of staff in May 2012.
Additional Training: Dean has accessed additional training in ‘Sign Along’; PEX; Autistic Spectrum Disorders First Aid; Safeguarding; CAF; Food Hygiene; S.E.N.

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