Shatterlocks Infant and Nursery school Academy

Once your child has started at Shatterlocks, we will assess them using the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

If the assessment highlights any areas of delay either the Nursery Manager or School SENCO will arrange to meet with you and share these findings. Following this meeting it may be necessary to provide your child with additional opportunities. These would be shared with you and discussed, then written in a targeted plan.

Daily Contact with staff, opportunities for meetings at your request throughout the year, detailed Learning Journeys including an instant online journal with detailed observations of your child's development, Parent Partnership meetings with our Teacher/ Nursery Manager 2 times a year and consistent collaboration with any additional interventions or plans put into place.

We plan, observe and assess continually in our Nursery to ensure that the needs of every individual is met. Our Nursery is a language rich environment which encourages independent creativity and learning. We have a wonderful outside area which enriches the experiences of the children through the extensive range of resources on offer.

We plan for every child's interests and needs to be met through our yearly, termly and weekly planning which follows the statutory guidance for the Early Years.

Environment: We plan for the environment to ensure children are able to attend, listen, explore and achieve. Lots of natural lighting and neutral paint ensures a sense of calm to the setting. Soft furnishings, bean bags and rugs minimise noise and promote a sense of wellbeing. Moveable furniture enables areas to be created accordingly.

Resources: Children's development is supported at all levels through effective teaching and resources. Should a child need extra support, through funding and liaising with outside agencies, this can enhance what we offer the children. 

Teaching strategies: Our highly trained staff have expertise in many areas. The Best Practice Guidance supports our Teaching and measures the impact upon the children we support. The SEND code of practice identifies the areas of need as: Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Physical/Sensory difficulties/ and Social, Emotional and Mental Health. Our SENCO will work with you and your child to target these areas at Universal, targeted and (where necessary) personal levels.

If your child is not making sufficient progress through the targeted plan, we will discuss with you other avenues such as referrals to other services such as Speech and Language. If your child receives this support, a Personalised Plan would then be put into place.

With your consent, we can refer to the Specialist Teaching & Learning service through the Local Inclusion Forum Team (LIFT) who can visit and offer additional guidance or signpost you child to other agencies. You are consulted every step of the way.

Staff regularly attend training in the interest of the needs of the children and we are constantly updating, reviewing and researching ideas to better our practice. For example, this year staff attended Positive Handling training, Makaton and The Prime Importance of Communication and Language.

Our key person approach is fundamental when monitoring your child, especially if they have additional needs. Your child's data and progress is shared with you at regularly meetings and on request. Pupil Progress consultations between the Teacher and the Headteacher monitor the impact closely of any targeted interventions put into place by the SENCO.

At Shatterlocks we pride ourselves on the amazing relationship we hold with Families and the communication between us, Families are often signposted also to Children Centre workshops or coffee mornings should these be beneficial and informative to your child's need.e

In Shatterlocks we are inclusive for all children and are committed to providing our children with hands on, valuable experiences to enrich their learning.

Within the setting, where children require more support for play and learning we use differentiation. For example, small group work and lots of tactile / visual resources or toys of interest to facilitate their language and understanding.

The ground floor provision ensures ease of movement and comprises a disabled toilet facility.

Children have a robust and efficient transition programme here in Shatterlocks. Activities for School starters include stories, playing / dressing up in uniform, Teddy Bears picnics, power point presentations or short films on beginning school and with integrated visits to their new School or setting. New Teachers / Practitioners also visit us in Pebbles to see your child explore in a familiar learning environment.

The local Children's Centre also visits, providing invaluable support and activities for the transition to School.

For children transferring to another setting, communication is paramount between the two and any Learning Journey Folder's or transition reports are shared accordingly.

All staff attend weekly staff meetings to discuss the provision and needs of the child. Any training events are shared within the team to enhance our practice. Policies and procedures are reviewed and updated as necessary.

SENco forums and briefings are attended, forging good SEN links to share outstanding practice amongst settings. LIFT meetings also provide opportunities to assess effectiveness of SEN provision and support available.

Parent voice is invaluable for monitoring our SEN provision, we have opportunities for daily conversation, parent questionnaires are sent out twice a year, along with parents evenings three times a year.

Parents/carers are invited to make an appointment with the Nursery office to have a look around the Nursery for admissions throughout the year. The responsibility for determining the admissions for nursery age children lies with the Nursery Manager. Applications for places need to be made directly using the Nursery application form. The Nursery will contact families directly to inform them of the outcome of their application.

Shatterlocks Nursery has 26 places available for nursery age children in any one of the morning or afternoon sessions. Any available sessions, over and above the entitled 15/30 hours free weekly provision will be chargeable. Shatterlocks Nursery do not charge for registering a child or require any deposit prior to starting.

Staff are always available at the beginning and end of the Nursery session or alternatively via telephone/ email. Parents may also wish to provide feedback for the Nursery via the school office which will be passed on to the Headteacher accordingly. A parent survey is also sent out to gather feedback during the academic year.