Aspire Nursery School

Aspire identifies children's development levels through the key person’s observations throughout the session. If a child seems to be struggling in any areas of their learning staff will inform the nursery manager/SENCo who ensures strategies are put into place to support your child to access their individual learning.

When a child may need extra support in an area of their learning the Manager/SENCo will seek support from outside agencies e.g. speech and language, the staff will identify this and the manager/SENCo will discuss the child's needs with the child's parents in order to access the specialist teachers and learning services.

Parents are able to discuss any worries or issues regarding their child with their child’s keyperson and the manager/SENCo. The Manager/SENCo oversees any educational plans, targeted or personalised plans alongside any other professionals involved, including the parents in each and every step of the way, to understand the support their child is receiving.

It is important to work together in partnership with parents and outside agencies in order to gather a clear picture of the whole child in different settings/provisions.

Aspire will adapt the Early Years Foundation stage according to the level of individual need children require.

Aspire plan for the unique child following the children's key person’s observations. The staff will then plan the child’s next experiences, to enable them to build on their learning and achievable SMART targets- Small Measurable Accessible Realistic and Timebound. These are reviewed with the keyperson, parent and the manager/SENCo every 6 weeks. Aspire has a cosy area in each room, allowing the child time to go and have a moment in which they can calm down and recover. Staff supervise and support any child who becomes frustrated or distressed.

Aspire use a range of visual support materials including Makaton signing, individual/ personalised time lines, choice boards and now and next boards. Aspire uses ECAT , ’Every child a talker’ strategies and also delivers the Early talk boost programme.

Aspire offers a close working relationship with you and your child via their assigned key person. The manager/SENCo will sign post available support within the local community and outside agencies.

Staff are trained in diabetes and anaphylaxis and training is sought via the child’s health care plan and the agencies involved, with any necessary specialist training needed.

Medication is checked and signed into the medication book in partnership with the parents, if medication is needed during the child’s nursery session.

The child’s key person will monitor and record children's progress and provide a summary of the child's development. This is shared with the parents and any outside agencies involved. Reviews are usually every 6 weeks.

The SENCo attends SENCo forums and LIFT local inclusion forum team meetings to access visits from the Specialist teaching service to put strategies into place to support children’s learning.

Aspire liaises with other nurseries in their collaboration to discuss any relevant staff training. Aspire also liaises with the local children’s centre, who provide a newsletter of events available for parents to access.

Staff are able to adapt the nursery environment to allow all children to take part in an activity. Staff may use one-one support where necessary and small group work to suit individual children's needs. Staff use Makaton signing alongside spoken language and facial expressions to enable children to communicate their needs.

Visual prompts such as photos of the children or a personalised time line helps support children throughout the daily routine, so they are less anxious.

Aspire has a ramp up to the 3-4 year old's rooms and wide doors for access. Aspire has a disabled toilet facility available.

Aspire will pass all relevant information reports onto the child’s school. The manager attends the Deal schools transition meeting in June and discusses the children's development with the reception teachers of their chosen school.

During the Summer terms 5 & 6 we introduce activities about going to school. The roleplay area is set up with a variety of school uniforms and names of schools. Staff hold discussions about school and read stories. The reception teachers visit the nursery and also the schools SENCo will arrange some extra support for children who may need a longer transition period. The school SENCo will also ensure children with SEND have a plan in place for any support they might need in school.

Some of the schools provide brochures of their reception class, teachers and pupils for the children to help them with their transitions to school.

Aspire is in the Hornbeam primary school grounds and has a good relationship with the school, working closely to ensure the children's transition into school is as smooth as possible. The schools invite children to stay and play sessions and some schools hold summer schools throughout August.

The manager/SENCo attends SENCo forums where up to date information is shared.

During the staff team/staff meetings children's progress is discussed and celebrations of their achievements are shared. Staff discuss strategies and reflect on their practice, to ensure children’s individual needs are met.

Parents need to contact the nursery manager to arrange a visit to the nursery. A nursery registration form needs to be completed and either a registration fee or deposit paid in order to secure the child’s place. The nursery payment policy sets out the terms and conditions. Once your child is registered the manager will arrange 2 free ‘stay and play’ sessions which parents attend and discuss and complete ‘all about me’ forms regarding their child. The ‘all about me’ forms and the registration forms allow parents to discuss their child's likes and dislikes and any dietary needs.

Aspire may be able to access additional funding to support children's individual needs.

Aspire has an open door policy and parents are able to speak to their child's keyperson about their child's progress. Aspire encourages parents to complete an annual questionnaire and uses parents feedback to reflect on current practice.

Aspire gives out an information pack to parents when they first start which contains a nursery brochure, complaints procedure, information on infections and nursery policies.

The nursery encourages parents to come and talk to them about any concerns they may have regarding their children.