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Snowden Hill Nursery


Snowden Hill Nursery welcome children into a happy and homely environment, where parents can be confident their children feel secure, stress free and have fun.

Our approach to care and education is based on over 30 years experience and provides an environment which nurtures and inspires children during their early years.

Our ethos is to help children develop positive attitudes to learning focused on their individual learning needs. Children learn through play based themes in separate rooms or areas for their age group. A happy and secure child is open to learning.

We follow the national pre-school curriculum with Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches to learning, providing children with the skills to support themselves socially, practically and academically in life.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Harriet O'Brien
Contact Position
Nursery Manager
Telephone
01322624301
E-mail
northfleet@meadowsnurseries.co.uk
Website
www.meadowsnurseries.co.uk/.../northfleet

Where to go

Address
Snowden Hill
Northfleet
Gravesend
Kent
Postcode
DA11 9AE
Notes

At Snowden Hill Nursery our children keep chickens. We have 4 hens that are part of the Snowden Hill Nursery family; Rolo, Cookie, Nugget and Go Faster. Our children are very proud chicken keepers!

When is it on?

When is childcare available
Open All Year
Carescheme Age Range:
1 year(s), month(s) to 5 year(s), month(s)
Opening Times
Opening Times
DayOpening TimeClosing Time
Monday 07:30 18:30
Tuesday 07:30 18:30
Wednesday 07:30 18:30
Thursday 07:30 18:30
Friday 07:30 18:30
Other Availability
Open 50 weeks a year. Closed for 1 week at Christmas and closed for 1 week during the last week of August.

Other Details

ECD Type
Day Nursery
Offers pickups
No
Cost details
£5.50 per hour under 2 years
£5.25 per hour over 2 years
£5.10 per hour over 3 years
3-4 Year Old Funding?
Yes
2 Year Old Funding?
Yes
Immediate vacancies?
Yes
Contact Provider for Vacancy Details?
Yes
Vacancy Information Last updated Date
12/09/2019
Wheelchair Access
No

Ofsted Information

Ofsted URN
EY484166
Link to latest ofsted inspection report 

30 Hours Extended Entitlement

Registered to provide up to 30 hours entitlement
Yes
30 Hours Partner Details (These are details of any other childcare provider(s) that this provider will work with to offer the 30 hours entitlement)

Term time and stretched options available.

Service status

Status
Open

Local Offer

Description

Snowden Hill Nursery provides an environment where all children, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) have access to broad and balanced learning experiences, through a creative and fully inclusive curriculum.  We believe in giving all children the opportunity to develop to their full potential and provide equal access to those children who have individual learning needs.

 

We provide an environment in which all children with special educational needs (SEN) are supported to reach their full potential.

  • We follow the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2014).
  • We ensure our provision and curriculum is inclusive to all children with special educational needs and disabilities.
  • We have in place a clear approach for identifying, responding to, and meeting children’s SEN (including children with disabilities that have special educational needs).
  • We identify the specific needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities and meet those needs through targeted plans and individual support.
  • We support and involve parents (and where relevant children), actively listening to, and acting on their wishes and concerns.
  • We work in partnership with parents to meet their needs and their child’s needs.
  • We work in partnership with the local authority and other external agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children with SEN and their families.
  • We regularly monitor and review nursery policy, practice and provision and, if necessary, make adjustments.

Special Needs Support

How does the setting identify children with additional needs or SEND? 

At Snowden Hill Nursery we follow the DfE’s ‘Special educational needs and disabilities Code of Practice’ which is fundamental to our procedures for identifying and assessing children with additional needs.

 

  • Staff at the nursery continually carry out observations enabling early identification and an early response to a child’s specific needs.
  • If a member of staff feels that a child is finding an aspect of their learning challenging, they will report their concerns to the SENCo who will, with the key person, complete observations on the child to identify areas of concern, using the nursery ‘observation’ sheet. At this time staff may find it useful to use the ‘STAR’ tracking sheet to monitor certain behaviours and identify triggers for behaviours.
  • Staff track progress through termly reviews of development levels, this enables staff to identify the children with a developmental delay. Similarly, it also enables staff to identify the children that are working above typical levels of development, who may be considered as ‘gifted and talented’, this supports staff to offer appropriate challenges and learning opportunities.
  • When a child is welcomed at nursery, a period of time is allowed for the child to settle in (the period of time differs slightly for each child) before a baseline assessment is carried out by the child’s key person (usually between two to four weeks after starting nursery), using the ‘My first sessions at nursery’ form. If a child is assessed to be working at below typical levels of development the key person will notify the room leader (if different) and the SENCo, and a ‘Steps to success’ target plan is completed with the advice from the SENCo.
  • The ‘Steps to success’ targets are based on identified areas where the child is working at below typical levels of development. This process is designed to give individual children additional support to settle in and make progress to achieve at least typical levels of development.
  • After six weeks the ‘Steps to success’ target plan is reviewed with the room leader (if different) and the SENCo. If a child has not made progress or has not yet achieved at least typical levels of development, a decision is made on whether it is appropriate to create a targeted plan. At this stage it is discussed whether it is appropriate for the room leader, the more senior and experienced practitioner, to take on the child as a key child. It is felt that the most senior and experienced member of staff working in the room is best suited to support children with additional needs, however this is only done so if it is in the child’s best interests. In the situation where the child has already developed a close bond with their key person and it is felt that the child would not cope well with the change, the manager/SENCo will allocate time for the key person to receive the support they need to ensure they gain the relevant knowledge and experience to support their key child to make progress.
  • If a targeted plan is deemed appropriate, parents and other relevant professionals (directly involved with the child) are invited to attend a consultation with the SENCo and key person where development levels are discussed, and areas of concern are explored. With parental input, a targeted plan is completed based on the highest areas of need. Targets should be SMART; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. The SENCo will advise parents of strategies and ways parents can support the child to make progress at home. Staff should also be aware that consultations such as these are also a time to celebrate the child’s achievements and is a time to discuss the child’s strengths as well as any concerns we may have.
  • Staff will then ensure that next steps and learning opportunities are based on the child’s targets to support them to make progress in their identified areas of need.
  • Targeted plans are jointly reviewed with the SENCO and key person every 6 weeks, progress is reviewed and a decision is taken on whether to change/adapt/extend targets. Parents are invited to be part of the review/ongoing target setting process.
  • In the event a child has made limited progress with targeted support or it is felt that a child would benefit from additional support, a decision is made as to whether referrals to outside agencies is appropriate and/or support from the local authority is needed. Parents are invited to discuss the reviewed targeted plan and to contribute any achievement and progress a child has made at home. Parental consent is sought for any referrals or support from the local authority/outside agencies. Nursery staff must ensure they have parental consent before discussing the child with any professionals.

How will I be informed / consulted about the ways in which my child is being supported? 

  • The SENCo/Manager is responsible for ensuring open lines of communication between the nursery, parents and other professionals, ensuring that parents are made aware of advice given to the nursery by other professionals.
  • We believe in supporting both the child and their parent(s)/carer. We work to form close relationships with the parent(s)/carer and offer our support. We provide parents with information on local sources of support and advice e.g. Local Offer, Information, Advice and Support Service.
  • We ensure that parents are involved at all stages of the assessment, planning, provision and review of their children's special education including all decision-making processes.

How will the setting adapt the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for my child's needs? 

  • We provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum for all children with special educational needs and disabilities. We achieve this through weekly planning, observations, evaluations, the organisation of activities and resources and reviewing children’s profiles and targets.
  • Every child has personal, manageable and attainable targets that are based from observations made by staff. For children with special educational needs and disabilities these are personalised around the EYFS and are focused on the child’s individual area of need.

What teaching strategies does the setting use for children with additional needs or learning difficulties? 

  • Snowden Hill Nursery believes in ensuring all staff are up-to-date with new procedures, protocols and research within early years’ care.  Whilst we endeavour to give staff the opportunity to attend courses that focus on children’s special educational needs and disabilities, this is not always viable.  Consequently, the Nurseries SENCo is responsible for the provision of inset.

  •  

     The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator will attend courses that allow them to keep up-to-date with their knowledge and feedback to the nursery staff. 

  • We have staff that have specialised training in areas that support children with special educational needs and disabilities, i.e. Makaton trained staff and where we feel we have a number of children across the nursery setting that require specialised support, all staff in the nursery are trained, i.e. autistic spectrum inset training from outside agency group.
  • We provide in-service training for practitioners and volunteers.

What additional support does the setting provide for children with additional needs or SEND? 

  • We provide resources (human and financial) to implement the nursery's ‘Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities’ Policy.
  • We apply SEN support to ensure early identification of children with SEN.

How will the setting monitor my child's progress and how will I be involved in this? 

  • We use the graduated approach system (assess, plan, do and review) applied in increasing detail and frequency to ensure that children progress. We use a system of planning, implementing, monitoring and reviewing targeted plans to provide individualised support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
  • Every child has personal, manageable and attainable targets that are based from observations made by staff. For children with special educational needs and disabilities these are personalised around the EYFS and are focused on the child’s individual area of need.
  • We believe in supporting both the child and their parent(s)/carer. We work to form close relationships with the parent(s)/carer and offer our support. We provide parents with information on local sources of support and advice e.g. Local Offer, Information, Advice and Support Service.
  • We ensure that parents are involved at all stages of the assessment, planning, provision and review of their children's special education including all decision-making processes.

How do you ensure children with additional needs or SEND can be included in the same activities as other children, including trips? 

At Snowden Hill Nursery we strive to provide a setting that is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children.  Snowden Hill Nursery aims to make inclusion central to the nursery environment, as well as providing a secure and accessible environment in which all our children can flourish and feel equal to each other.

 

We positively value and respect all children from different ethnicities, social and economic backgrounds, genders, abilities and disabilities. Children with special educational needs and disabilities are not made to feel excluded from a session or any activity and are given the opportunity to choose what activities they wish to engage in. This may help ensure they have a sense of belonging and self-worth.

How accessible is the building for children with mobility difficulties / wheelchair users? 

The nursery entrance is accessible via ramp and is wheelchair friendly. There is a toilet on the ground floor for disabled users. At this time the garden and first floor are not accessible for wheelchair users.

How will you support my child's transition to a new setting or school? 

At Snowden Hill Nursery we have Strong relationships with our local schools and ensure good lines of communication between the nursery and receiving schools. With parental consent, we ensure the SENCo at the receiving school has the all the most up to date information and paperwork to make the necessary adjustments to ensure a smooth transition. Prior to the transition to a new school, we are happy to organise visits and meetings to ensure the the transition is as smooth as possible. We work with all our children to prepare them for an upcoming transition, such as encouraging them to dress up in their school uniform and looking at photo books of their new school as well as offering additional support to those children with SEND as necessary.

How does the setting assess the overall effectiveness of its SEN provision and how can parents / carers take part in this evaluation? 

Snowden Hill Nursery is constantly striving to improve in all areas as well as in our SEN provision. We believe that parental input is an important part of this process, we value and welcome any input from our parents. Parent views are collected with our annual parental questionnaires, these are used to inform our annual review of our policies and procedures. We work closely with our local authority, in particular the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service and the Inclusion and Equality teams, and receive regular feedback from the professionals attending the LIFT (Local Inclusion Forum Team) meetings. As well as this, we are committed to regular staff training to improve our practice and knowledge of SEND.

Who should I contact if I am considering registering for a place at the setting? 

Please contact the nursery and ask to speak to our friendly SENCo. Our SENCo may invite you to a meeting to discuss your child's needs and learning requirements in more detail and discuss the ways in which the nursery could support your family. Our SENCo may explore with you the possible funding streams available; DAF (Disability Access Funding) and SENIF (Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding) and who these can be used to support your child at nursery.

What arrangements does the setting have for feedback from parents / carers, including compliments and complaints? 

Snowden Hill Nursery has a high regard for all parental input, to ensure we are paying careful attention to the parent and children’s needs and wishes in a prompt and courteous manner.  We believe that children and parents are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention to their needs and wishes. We welcome suggestions on how to improve the nursery and will give prompt and serious attention to any concerns about the running of the nursery. We anticipate that most concerns will be resolved quickly, by an informal approach with the nursery manager. If this does not achieve the desired result, we have a set of procedures for dealing with concerns. We aim to bring all concerns about the running of the nursery to a satisfactory conclusion for all parties involved.

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