How does Giggle and Grow know if children need extra help?
Every child who attends Giggle and Grow Preschool will be allocated a key person; this key person will observe their key children during their time at the setting and monitor their progress in the 7 areas. This will help to highlight if there are any additional needs and where the child may need extra support.
The 7 areas of development are:
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- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
What should I do if I think my child have special educational needs?
If you feel that your child may have a special educational need, we advise that you bring up your concerns with your child’s key person or a member of the Giggle and Grow team. Another alternative if you feel more comfortable you could ask to speak to someone at the local children and family centre.
How will I know if Giggle and Grow Preschool will support my child?
Giggle and Grow preschool follow a code of practice which enables us to work to the need of each individual child; each child is allocated a key person that will work closely with your child to ensure they are happy and secure. We will produce a learning journal of your child’s journey through preschool with observations, photos, and their individual next steps. These are tailored for each child based on the curriculum in which we work with, which is the EYFS. And we follow the new SEN code of practice 2014.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
If a child has been identified with a special educational need, as a setting we will discuss with parents the best action to take this may include working with outside agencies a selection of these may be:
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- The First Team
- Children and Family Centre
- Think Family
- Health Visitor
Your child may also be given an individual Education Plan (IEP) this will be tailored using the child’s next steps, strategies and the child’s interests. This will be discussed with parents and other agencies to ensure we are working to the best of our ability to help your child.
How will I know how my child is doing?
We update our learning journals weekly, and these are accessible to all parents at all times. We share them every half term along with individual next steps which are linked to EYFS; your child’s development is tracked on a progress review sheet. Parents have the opportunity to discuss with their key person any concerns they may have at any time. We thrive to build a good relationship’s with our parents through our open door policy which enables them to share home experiences, children’s interests and progress at home. We have a monthly calendar which gives the parents/carers the opportunity to choose a day in which they would like to come into the setting and see what their child has been doing.
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
Each setting has a designated SENCO to support staff, parents and children, who will work with the West Sussex First Team and other professionals who may be involved with supporting your child.
If your child has prescribed medicines then a care plan will be put in place, all practitioners within our settings are first aid trained and are able to administer labelled prescribed medication although parents will be required to sign the relevant paper work to allow this. At Giggle and Grow if any child has any accident regarding their head we always inform parents with a phone call immediately after the accident as well as ask them to sign the accident form at the end of session.
We promote positive behaviour by using positive technique’s suitable to the individual child; staff attend regular training courses to support this. Any other additional requirements in the interest of the child may be discussed with staff.
What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the early years setting?
All practitioners are trained to provide necessary care and support for your child in their learning although when required the setting welcomes outside specialist support and expertise from other agencies to make necessary visits when discussed and agreed, these may include visits from the First Team, Speech Therapists, Paediatrician, and similar professionals.
What training have the staff supporting children had or expected to have?
Designated practitioners attend SENCO training which they will then relay to all staff within the setting. Other training courses are available to help support staff in specific areas that may be beneficial for a child’s individual needs. All training certificates and records are kept on file within the setting. All practitioners are first aid trained but there is a designated first aider in each setting. Additional training can be given when necessary.
How will my child be included in experiences out of the classroom?
All children have the opportunity to explore outside the setting. Risk assessments will be completed for every activity and updated regularly to ensure their safety. Individual risk assessments may need to be put in place to make all staff aware of needs and actions, ie: taking inhalers’ on an outing and updating care plans. All visits or trips would be planned in order to include all children. We endeavour to include all parents/carers in the planning of these visits to identify needs of the individual children and invite parents/carers to join theses outings.
How accessible is the school environment?
We have a large hall and enclosed garden area which is accessible to all children throughout the day. Our main access has a slope and is accessible for wheelchairs; there is a disabled toilet that has a rail and baby changing facilities. Our setting has designated disabled parking spaces. Our notice boards have updated information with local events organised by the children and family centres.
If you are a parent who does not have English as your first language, we can involve another family member who speaks English or arrange for an external interpreter. Signs and posters around the setting are used with pictures helping children identify equipment and play areas. All equipment can be used at different levels in order for all children to have access indoors and out. Also planned activities can be adapted to suit individual needs. Our policies and procedures are updated regularly and on display within folders for parents/carers to access at all times. Additional funding may be obtained by the setting to help us meet your child’s needs. Daily risk assessments are carried out to ensure our environment is safe and secure.
How will Giggle and Grow preschool prepare and support my child to join the early years setting, or to transfer to a new school/setting?
We help children to settle when they are joining our setting by offering stay and play sessions with parents or short stay and play periods when they stay alone. If the child becomes upset and we are not able to comfort them we will phone the parent/carer to collect and try different strategies to settle the children. When the children transfer to a new setting or school we will write a full report on their progress. We will also offer to do a transaction meeting with the new key person in the new setting if we or the parent feels this is needed or if there is a special educational need.
How are the preschools resources allocated and matched to children with SEN?
A dedicated budget is available to train staff and inclusion funding can be applied for to support your child within our setting. If required the family centre offers us a lending library of toys, sensory equipment and topic boxes. We have excellent facilities and resources within the setting. The first team can also allocate funds for resources and West Sussex council.
How is the decision made about how much support my child will receive?
If it is identified by a member of staff that a child may need extra support, we will first approach the parent/carer to discuss this and decide if extra support might be required from an outside professional or new strategies will be put into place. We will then contact the relevant agencies with parents’ consent to arrange visits to observe the child.
How will I be involved in discussions about planning for my child’s education?
We have an open door policy where parents/carers are always welcome in to the setting to see staff and their child within the preschool environment. Parents that attend these sessions are able to do so as regularly or as irregular as they wish. We provide feedback forms for parents and visitors welcoming all new ideas, comments, and opinions.
Who can I contact for further information?
Again we have an open door policy and any member of staff can be spoken to at any time. Our policies and procedure’s folder can be seen at any time throughout the session. If you require somewhere private to speak to a member off staff this is available too.
