Seedlings Nursery - Leigh Acadamies Trust

Within Seedlings Nursery we work with parents/carers to develop close relationships, to ensure the best possible outcome for each child within our care. 

Our Nursery staff will support our pupils to settle into nursery life, tailoring each child's transition to their indiviudal needs. We believe the well-being of the child is paramount and will ensure that they are supported in this first step in their learning journey. 

Our Nursery staff are trained to identify additional needs or SEND early, thus enabling us to provide the support and strucutre needed to ensure the child and family are fully supported. 

Through regular discussions both formally and informally we will monitor the progress of each child within the nursery and then with parents consent identify next steps to support the children.

We work closely with our Specialist Teaching and Learning Support and other outside agencies to identify and create targets for each child. These targets are then reviewed termly through consultation with the Nursery SENCO and parents/carers to look into the progress made and to identify the next steps for each child. 

We encourage open communication between families and our staff to best support our pupils. Should a parent have a concern in regards to their child's progress we would ask them to initally discuss this with a member of the nursery team, call the nursery or email into the nursery to arrange a meeting. 

Effective communication is the key for parents to feel updated and informed about how their child has been supported within nursery. Within the Nursery we have thee  members of staff (Nursery Teacher and Two Early Years Practitioners).

We ensure that at the start and end of every session staff are available to discuss any concerns or answer questions from parents. This enables us to communicate quickly and regularly about children's development and how we have been supporting them. Within the nursery each child will have an identified key person in addition to the class teacher. Your child's key person and the class teacher will be involved from the very beginning of your time with us.

We will work to build strong relationships with both child and family. We ensure parents/carers feel involved by having electronic journals to provide a means of communication between setting and home, weekly newsletters to share important information, daily informal discussions at the start and end of sessions, opportunities to meet with the Nursery Teacher/Key Person at regular intervals throughout the year. Our Nursery Teacher/Nursery SENDCO will meet with parents/carers to identify if a referral needs to be made for a child, working with families throughout the process to ensure the best outcome for all pupils.

Our Educational Programme has been carefully designed to ensure it meets the needs all each child within the nursery, tailoring learning experiences to their next steps as well as through strong relationships with the children. Our staff work hard to ensure that they know each child's current achievements and what is needed next to allow them to make more progress, across all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.  These learning experiences are carefully tailored to each child, through our PYP (Primary Years Programme) curriculum. Please see our academy website for more information. 

Within the nursery we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This framework forms the basis for all our child's experiences during their time with us. Each child's key person will identify, assess and plan for experiences and interactions for your child covering the three prime areas of the EYFS and the four specific areas. 

As each child is unique and individual we tailor interactions, provision and learning experiences to the needs of each individual child depending upon their stage of development and any additional needs that they may have. For example within Communication and Language we ensure we have a language rich environment, where children are exposed to high quality texts that not only interest the children but promote their understanding and use of language. We use targeted plans in small groups and with individuals to ensure that language progresses well during their time in Seedlings. 

We follow language interventions such as I CAN Early Talk and Every Child a Talker activties. We have daily phonic sessions that help to develop children's listening and attention skills in addition to their discrimination of sounds. 

In regards to Personal Social and Emotional development staff develop children's confidence and ability to share and play as part of a group. We link with outside agencies where required to ensure that specialist provision is provided for those children that require it. Targeted plans also help to develop children's well being, confidence and self care within the nursery.

Our high trained staff work closely with the children to identify their individual next steps, then plan interactions and learning experiences that will support the children with these next steps. Over time staff will monitor the progress a child makes and through regular meetings with parents/carers we will identify whether a targeted plan or a referral is needed to support that child. Once on a targeted plan the children will then be supported with their targets, which are reviewed regularly and next steps made. 

In regards to Physical Development the staff within the nursery liaise with specialist therapist when specific needs are needed to be met. We provide a learning environment that is accessible for all children. Resources are clearly labelled and all at child's height and are available at all times of the nursery day. We understand the role that outside factors such as noise and lightening can have upon a child. We have a dimmed nursery with a calm atmosphere where children are focused and engaged within their play. The children also have access to a 'quiet' room adjacent to the main nursery room. This is a room where children can share books quietly or play quietly away from the bustle of the main nursery room. During the nursery day the children have free flow access to the outside area. In addition to this we have access to the forest school site. In regards to dietary needs we discuss this with parents at our first meeting and plan where needed steps to ensure that each child's dietary requirements are met. 

Our nursery team are trained to use makaton as a way of support communication and understanding within the nursery. 

The children in the nursery have a clear and consistent daily routine, which is referred to on our visual timetable, where we also have additional individual timetables and now and next boards where needed to ensure that all pupils are aware of the routine and expectations within the day. 

Staff use communication in print symbols to support communication with children, the visual cues aid independence, understanding and communication for all childrenw within our care. 

The children have access to a sensory room, a quiet area of the nursery as well as a purpose built outside area. 

Staff work with children to develop their self regulation and understanding of emotions. These are done through whole class, small group and individual learning experiences. Modelling the assocation of emotions to colours, such as within the 'Colour Monster' stories and the 'Zones of Regulation'. These ensure children are able to communicate their emotions and needs confidently with those around them. 

At the end of nursery sessions the nursery team communicate with parents/carers about their child's session and what has happened during their day. We also liasie via email with parents/carers and via our online learning journal. We value the role that parents/carers have in their child's education and a keen to work in a team for the best of every child. 

Every child will receive a home visit and settle sessions prior to starting at Seedlings nursery. We are keen to tailor transition to each child, some will settle quickly, whilst others may take a little longer. We agree this through communication with parents/carers to ensure the well-being of the child is paramount. 

Our nursery team will monitor a child's progress over time, should there be concerns for the progress a child has made then we will liasie with parents to identify steps within a targeted plan or a referral to support the child's development. We work closely with parents to ensure that all parents are kept up to date of their child's progress as well as ensuring that where there is additional needs or SEND additional support is put in place quickly. 

In discussion with the Nursery Teacher/NurserySENCO/Key Person we are able to obtain a LIFT meeting (Local Inclusion Team Forum) with written consent from parents/carers. These occur every term. During these meetings if a referral is accepted then a specialist teacher will visit the nursery to observe and support your child to provide additional advice and support. These specialist teachers may also refer to other services whom will be able to support your child's time in nursery and as they move to school. We ensure that throughout this process we keep parents/carers consulted at all stages. 

The nursery team will monitor a child's progress from daily interactions through to progress over time. This is communicated regularly with parents via our on line learning portals as well as through daily conversations and parent/carer's meetings. 

Should the nursery have concerns over the progress a child is making, or parents raise concerns we will work together to identify next steps, monitoring the progress made in time. Then, if required referrals to outside agencies will be made to ensure the needs of the child are met. 

Within the nursery we will also introduce targeted and personalised plans for those children that require them, referring to LIFT where needed to gain outside agency support for the best of each child.  

Seedlings Nursery is committed to inclusive practice that enables all children to be included within the nursery but also during outings. The Nursery Teacher/Nursery SENDCO and Nursery Practitioners are responsible for ensuring that planned activities and learning opportunities are adapted to meet the individual needs of each child. This may be additional resources, staffing or a different style of learning. 

The Nursery is on the ground floor of a brand new building (completed September 2018).

The main entrance to the nursery is wheel chair accessible as are all areas of the nursery.

A wheelchair accessible toilet is adjacent to the nursery should it be needed. In addition to this we have a nappy changing room within the main nursery unit. The outside area is accessible from one exit from the main nursery, this is ground level and again is wheelchair accessible. 

We ensure that a smooth transition is achieved for all children. We have written reports that highlight each child's individual stage of development, strengths and areas of development for their teacher. We will meet with new teachers in the Summer term to discuss each child and transfer key information about their needs and requirements. Children have the opportunity to visit their new setting through out the Summer term. We also invite their new teachers into the nursery to meet with the child and see them in their current environment. The Nursery Teacher/Nursery SENCO will meet with parents/carers to discuss additional support that we can provide for children to enable them to settle quickly into school. This can include; social stories, additional visits, photographic books detailing the steps taken to settle into their new school. Our EYFS Lead will meet with children moving to Langley Park Primary Academy at home to also ensure a smooth transition for parents and children. We also invite children to 'Tasty Tuesday' an opportunity to experience a school lunch as well as settle sessions prior to starting the school in September. 

We provide opportunities at LIFT meetings, SENCO forum meetings, staff meetings, regular parents and key person assessment visits, regularly reviewing policies and procedures. 

Please contact us via telephone or email.

We pride ourselves in developing strong relationship with parents/carers of the children within our nursery. 

Parents/Carers are able to communicate compliments and complaints via the main academy office.

They are also able to respond to regular questionnaires/surveys. 

We also have an open door policy where parents/carers are able to speak with their child's teacher or key person each session should they have a query or concern.