Queenborough School and Maintained Nursery

At Queenborough School and Nursery, we pride ourselves in ensuring that all children are treated as individuals. We have a team of highly qualified and experienced staff who are pro-active in ensuring that children with additional needs are identified quickly. We liaise closely with parents to discuss our observations and work with our SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) to provide the highest level of care for your child and to ensure we are supporting all children in reaching their full potential. Our EYFS Leader holds a welcome meeting for all parents and their children before they start Nursery, giving parents an opportunity to share any concerns they may have regarding their child starting Nursery and their individual needs.

Within the Nursery setting, Nursery staff are available every day for parents to discuss their child and the progress they are making. Before a child joins our Nursery, we invite parents to a welcome meeting and share key information about life at Queenborough Nursery. If your child requires additional support or intervention, a targeted support plan is written, in collaboration with parents and all members of the Nursery team support the child in meeting their individual targets. This is overseen by the SENCO and Early Years Lead. Targeted support plans are reviewed termly with parents, and new targets are identified as needed. 

At Queenborough School and Nursery, we believe that the Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in securing solid foundations for learning that children will continue to build upon. It is our intent that the children who enter our EYFS develop physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally whilst embedding a positive attitude towards school and learning. We believe that all children deserve to be valued as individual and we are passionate in allowing all children to achieve their full potential, regardless of their starting points. EYFS plays a crucial role in igniting the flame for learning. This is imperative in transforming the lives of the children in our care and thus the future of our local community.

Nursery staff plan learning opportunities for all pupils within the setting. The children will access this learning at their own individual level and staff are highly skilled at observing and moving a child’s learning forward at their own individual level, scaffolding and providing additional support where needed. 

At Queenborough School and Nursery, we use Makaton and encourage all children to learn basic signs for everyday activities. We are now proud to say that we use this as part of our everyday communication with all children. Staff carefully plan learning opportunities for the whole setting using both the inside and outside learning environment. Staff are highly skilled in enhancing this provision through careful observation of children whilst they are engaging in child-initiated play and will intervene and support learning where necessary. We encourage the children to be independent learners but are always on hand to support or extend a child’s understanding when needed. Staff are excellent role models and use appropriate strategies to ensure the needs of every child are met. We liaise with outside agencies to discuss teaching and learning strategies particularly if individual children have identified needs. 

Early identification of additional needs in the Early Years is key and we work closely with parents and carers to ensure they are always informed of their child's progress and any additional support they are receiving or may need. We signpost parents to specific training events through the MIDAS centre in Sittingbourne and support parents in understanding the referral process when taking a child to LIFT (Local Inclusion Forum Team). 

We pride ourselves in working closely with parents to ensure that all children’s needs are met regardless of their ability. We work closely with our SENCO to ensure that all staff have up to date knowledge regarding specific additional needs and attend any relevant training. We are pro-active in raising any concerns we may have about a child, and ensure that we work in partnership with parents to meet their child’s individual needs. 

All children, when they first start in Nursery are screened for Speech and Language. We have a skilled practitioner who delivers Speech and Language intervention with our Nursery children where needed. We use a visual timetable, including now and next boards to ensure that all children know what is happening during their Nursery session. Personal care needs are supported by all members of the Nursery team and they work closely with parents to identify when a child is ready for toilet training. All staff are trained to administer basic medication and if needed, additional training is provided for specific medical needs. 

Staff at Queenborough Nursery monitor individual pupils by observing them closely whilst they are in the setting. They will liaise with parents and share these observations via the online learning journal, Tapestry. Parents are encouraged to respond to these observations as well as meet their child’s key person both formally and informally. Staff are always on hand to discuss individual children. Nursery staff report to parents three times a year using ‘My Unique Progress’ as well as inviting parents in to discuss their child’s progress. The school use the Data Milestones tracking tool from the Education People to track individual children's achievements. We liaise closely with the Swale Specialist Teaching Service to ensure that we are accessing relevant advice and support for individual children's needs. 

All children are encouraged to participate in all activities and events at Queenborough Nursery regardless of their additional needs. We work in partnership with parents, where needed, to plan events that are accessible for all pupils. Whilst planning the learning opportunities for these events, we complete detailed risk assessments to ensure all children are kept safe at all times

We have good access for children or adults with mobility difficulties. The Nursery itself is on one level and there are a number of ramps around the whole school site to make it accessible for all members of the Queenborough School and Nursery community.

We work closely with schools to ensure that the children leaving our Nursery feel confident, happy and ready to start their new school or setting. We formally meet with members of staff from the new school/setting to discuss each individual child and ensure relevant paperwork is shared. We welcome colleagues from local schools to visit the Nursery and meet the children in person in order to start building those important relationships. 

The staff at Queenborough Nursery and the SENCO work closely with other professionals who may be involved in a child’s care. Targeted support plans are introduced with input from parents and professionals in order to meet individual children's needs. These plans are monitored and reviewed termly, progress is analysed and new targets set when appropriate. Parents are invited to attend the review meeting and to give input on future targets.

Please contact the School Office if you would like to arrange a visit to come and have a look around our Nursery. We will then be able to give you an application pack and arrange a convenient time to see the Nursery in action. We would advise parents to share as much information with us regarding their child in order to ensure that if they do require any additional support, this can be in place before they start with us. 

We have an open-door policy at Queenborough School and Nursery and are always working to improve our relationships with parents / carers. Parents can visit our school website, where key information is shared for all parents and carers. When your child starts at our setting we do have a Twitter page which is a fantastic way of communicating with parents /carers.  We value feedback from parents, positive and negative, to ensure that we are always working to be the best we can be. We do have a Complaints Policy, that is available on request from the School Office or can be found on our school website.