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Northbourne Park Pre-Prep School - Nursery Unit


The homely environment of the Pre-Prep, with its small classes ensures a smooth transition for every child from home to school.  We provide a safe and secure setting and are surrounded by gardens and woods. 

Creativity and exploration lie at the heart of all that we do, and the children learn to love learning through play.  They develop quickly with us with our unique emphasis on early literacy and numeracy, they gain confidence and grow in a nurturing environment.

Our highly qualified and experienced staff provide stimulating experiences, allowing each child to develop at their own pace.


Who to contact

Contact Name
Emmeline Henderson
Contact Position
Secretary
Telephone
01304 611792
E-mail
preprep@northbournepark.com
Website
www.northbournepark.com

Where to go

Name
Northbourne Park School
Address
The Old Rectory
Betteshanger
Deal
Kent
Postcode
CT14 0NJ

When is it on?

When is childcare available
Term Time Only
Carescheme Age Range:
2 year(s), 3 month(s) to 4 year(s), 5 month(s)
Opening Times
Opening Times
DayOpening TimeClosing Time
Monday 08:00 18:00
Tuesday 08:00 18:00
Wednesday 08:00 18:00
Thursday 08:00 18:00
Friday 08:00 18:00

Other Details

ECD Type
Nursery Unit of Independent School
Offers pickups
Yes
Cost details
£57.98 per day (8.30am-4.00pm)
£24.85 morning only (8.30am-11.30am)
£20.72 afternoon only (1.30pm - 4pm)
£41.44 extended morning (8.30am-1.30pm)
Early Years Foundation Stage Funding details available upon request
3-4 Year Old Funding?
Yes
Immediate vacancies?
Yes
Contact Provider for Vacancy Details?
Yes
Vacancy Information Last updated Date
29/02/2024
Facilities
Sandpit, Baby Group, Music, Literacy and Numeracy, Computers / It, Refreshments, Outdoor Adventure Play Area, Toddler Groups, Languages, Dance, Outdoor Activities, Kitchen, Car Parking, Environmental Area, Play House, Parent and Toddler Group, Bushcraft, Library - Children's Library, Gym, Sports, Visits and Outings, Garden, Walks
Other facilities information
Specialist French and Music lessons, weekly Forest School activities, Free lunches and fantastic outdoor area.
Languages Spoken:
French
Wheelchair Access
No

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)

Four days from 8:30am-4.00pm

Service status

Status
Open

Local Offer

Links
Northbourne Park School

Special Needs Support

When your child starts at the Nursery, we ask you to complete an 'All About Me' form which gives us a chance to get to know your child and their particular strengths and areas where they may need additional support.  We ask about your child's interests at home so that this can inform our planning.  When your child first starts we assess their starting points in line with a document called Development Matters.  This may be a time when any delay in development can be discussed and appropriate next steps identified.  This may involve key staff targeting a specific area of development, such as social skills.  This will be shared with you through a targeted plan.  The Nursery Teacher and teaching assistants continuously assess your child while they are in our care.  This enables us to identify your child's individual needs and to plan around their needs.  Any concerns you may have about your child can be discussed with the Nursery Teacher.  Our SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) is happy to converse with parents and if necessary will seek guidance with outside services for further support.  This can include speech and language therapists, specialist teachers, outreach workers, social services and the local Children's Centre.

Before your child starts with us, they are offered settling in sessions when you will be introduced to key staff.  This is the initial opportunity for the parents to identify any needs so that these can be catered for.  Parent's communication is valued and staff will work together with the parents to ensure that every child's learning is supported.  At initial sessions, parents can work with the staff to settle the child into the nursery.  Throughout this time the staff will understand the child's individual routines, needs, interests and abilities. Your child's teacher will be involved from the start so that strong and positive relationships are built with your child and with you.  You can be involved through

  • Daily informal contact.
  • Opportunities for meeting at yoru request throughout the year.
  • Detailed learning journeys which set out photos and observations of how your child is developing throughout the year. 
  • Invitation to parents evening, special assemblies, other social events.
  • Collaboration with you on any extra planning we put in place.

The key staff will ensure your child's development progress is continually tracked.  They will plan activities for your child using individual plans that have been agreed between you and the key staff.  You will have regular meetings with the key staff to discuss progress and development. 

Our focus is to keep your child's individual interests at the centre of their development.  We will plan activities based around their interest and individual plans.  If your child has a special educational needs, their teacher and SENCo will work together to create a Targeted Plan.  This highlights certain areas of development for particular focus, and steps to take to help your child meet those targets.  We have robust policies and procedures in place which are reviewed regularly ensuring that our resources and environment is suitable and accessible for all.  The Senco will work closely with key staff to differentiate resources, experiences and activities to support the child.  The Senco will liaise with other professionals (with parents consent) to gain further advice in supporting each individual child.  The Senco and key person will work collaboratively to ensure that targets and strategies are implemented.  These will be updated regularly to update plans and provide support for all children.  

We provide a 'language rich' enviroment tailored to the needs of the current children.  We use targeted activities to support language development.  We work alongside Speech and Language therapists to support individual children.

We to provide activities to promote well being and resilience.

We aim to offer an accessible environment and lay-out to meet families' current needs.  

We start by planning for the environment to improve the conditions that Will enable children to listen and attend and give full involvement to their learning.  The rooms are painted in neutral colours to promote a sense of calm and we have soft furnishings and carpet to minimise noise in most of the rooms to minimise noise and encourage a sense of well-being.  We also have some moveable furniture to facilitate small group activities and quiet areas.  Storage areas are clearly labelled with text and pictures. 

 

Our Senco works with key staff to make sure specialist equipment is obtained if necessary.  Where children are receiving support from outside agencies, we will do our best to support this provision within the nursery setting.

All our staff are experienced staff who have received training in supporting children with additional needs.  The SEND Code of Practice bands supporting children into four broad areas of need. 

  • Communication and interaction.
  • Cognition and Learning.
  • Social and Emotional and Mental Health.
  • Physical/Sensory difficulties.

At Northbourne Park Pre Prep, we plan for each child individually, using Characteristics of Effective Learning. 

 

Our SEND policy sets out the graduated approach we use to support children.  If your child is making insufficient progress through a targeted plan, the SENCO or Nursery Teacher may discuss with you the need to refer to other services, such as speech and language therapy.  If your child begins to receive support from outside agencies, the targeted support would be included in the nursery class provision plan.

If required your conset would be obtained to refer for external agency support such as the specialist teaching service, speech and language therapist.

 

All our staff are regularly encouraged to complete training, for example, recently three members of staff attended inset on handwriting/fine motor skills.

In the past, where we have received children with a condition we were unfamiliar of, our SENCO and staff have researched information and shared with staff ensuring that everyone involved with the child has an overview of their needs and how best to support them.  

 

Key staff will be responsible for guiding, monitoring and supporting the physical and emotional development of children in our care and this is especially important when children have special or additional educational needs.

You will be invited to see your child's learning journey and hear about his/her progress; this also provides an opportunity to talk about any concerns.  Individual appointments can also be made if you cannot make the dates and you can always request a meeting at any reasonable time.

We make an overall assessment of your  child's progress three times a year.

We pride ourselves on our partnership with parents and sometimes we are able to offer places on training workshops; for example, recently, one parent attended Autism Awareness Training. 

Childrens daily activities and progress are charted using Tapestry Online Journal.  Parents have full access to thier child's journal.  Parents can make their own entries, add photos and comments.  The entries are matched to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

 

We are fully committed to inclusive practice that enables all children to be included within our setting.  At staff meetings we will discuss an additional needs a child may have so that we, as a setting are fully aware.  Activities are adapted to meet your child's needs.  This is called differentiation.  

 

We regularly take trips our or go for walks in our lovely country estate and when we have new children, we revise our risk assessments to take account of any new conditions that may cause children to be at risk.  We always carry a first aid box, children's emergency details and any special equipment or resources we might need.  A walkie talkie or mobile phone is also taken in case we need to contact the school.  

The setting is not a purpose built Nursery.  However, it is set on the ground floor of a beautiful country house with an extensive outside area and garden.  Temporary ramps can be positioned for children using wheelchairs and frames.  The Nursery has its own entrance.

 

Whenever possible, we will make any reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of children, parents or staff.  We have a large car park.  

Please let us know if you have any difficulties with accessibility.  

For the transition to a new setting or school, new teacher visits are arranged, SENCO meetings are arranged with parents, and key staff can visit the new school with you and your child if needed.  We are in contact with local schools throughout the transition process.

Our children in the Nursery spend a great deal of time with the children in the Pre-Prep this ensures that they are fully integrated into school life by the time they leave the Nursery and move into Reception.

 

If children move onto another setting at Reception age, we liaise with the school to ensure that they have as much information about your child as possible.  We also invite a member of the staff to visit your child at our Nursery to see them in their familiar setting. 

Our SENCO regularly attends LIFT meetings and SENCO forum meetings to ensure that the school and individuals, both children and staff, are supported to access and provide the best possible provision.  

We regularly review our policies and procedures to ensure that individual needs are met.  

Termly pupil progress meetings are held to ensure that all children are making appropriate progress.  If not, we will put additional support in place and review at the next meeting.  

Weekly staff meetings spend time discussing any welfare issues and the needs of individual children are highlighted to ensure that all staff are aware.

If you are interested in your child attending Northbourne Park School Nursery, please contact us by emailing or phone us.  We are happy to arrange a tour an answer any questions you may have.

Our SEND policy provides the context for supporting children through the graduated approach.  Copies of policies can be found on our website or can be requested at the Nursery.  

We always welcome constructive feedback and if we feel necessary will make changes to our practice as a result.

We have an Open Door Policy at Northbourne Park School.  Parents are always welcome to make an appointment with their child's teacher to discuss their child or the Nursery.  We have Parent Reps who organise events such as fundraisers and regular drop-in coffee mornings.

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