Our Inclusive SEND Ethos
At our nursery, we believe every child is unique, capable of learning, and an important part of our community. This includes children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We know that starting nursery can feel daunting, especially if you are worried about how your child will manage, and we are here to listen, reassure, and work alongside you.
Children with SEND learn, play, and explore alongside their peers in our play-based environment. We carefully adapt activities, routines, and resources so that each child can take part as fully as possible. This might mean using visual supports, adjusting the pace of an activity, offering quieter spaces, or providing extra adult support when needed. Our aim is always to build on your child’s strengths, celebrate their progress, and help them feel safe, understood, and included every day.
We work in partnership with parents and carers, valuing your knowledge of your child and involving you in decisions about their support. Where helpful, we also collaborate with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists or educational psychologists. Our approach is guided by the SEND Code of Practice and our local authority’s guidance, ensuring that support is thoughtful, consistent, and in line with best practice, without overwhelming you with legal detail. Together, we create a nurturing environment where your child can grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence.
From the very first visit, we take time to get to know you and your child. We will ask about what they enjoy, what helps them feel calm, and any strategies that work well at home. This information helps us plan a gentle, flexible settling-in process that respects your child’s pace. You are always welcome to share concerns, ask questions, or request a review of the support in place; we see this as an ongoing conversation, not a one-off meeting.
Our team receives regular training in supporting children with a wide range of needs, including communication and interaction differences, sensory needs, physical needs, and social and emotional needs. We use clear, simple language, visual cues, and consistent routines to help children understand what is happening and what will come next. When things feel challenging, we respond with patience and care, focusing on emotional wellbeing as much as learning.
We want you to feel confident that your child is welcomed exactly as they are. Our inclusive ethos is not an add-on; it is at the heart of everything we do. If you are unsure whether nursery is the right step, or what support might look like for your child, we invite you to talk to us. Together, we can explore options, plan next steps, and make sure your child’s nursery experience is positive, nurturing, and truly inclusive.
How We Support Children With SEND Every Day
We believe every child is unique, and we take time to get to know their strengths, interests, and any areas where they may need extra help. If we notice that a child is finding something tricky, we follow a clear, step‑by‑step process called the graduated approach: assess, plan, do, review. First, we quietly observe your child in everyday play and routines, and we talk with you about what you see at home. Together, we agree what is going well and what might need more support.
Next, we plan small, achievable goals with you, using simple language and examples so everything feels clear and manageable. We then put this plan into action in daily nursery life. This might include using visual timetables so your child can see what is happening next, communication aids such as picture cards or simple signing, small group activities to build confidence, or sensory resources like fidget toys, textured materials, or a quiet, cosy space. We also adapt activities so every child can join in, for example offering different tools for mark‑making, extra time to finish tasks, or breaking instructions into smaller steps.
We regularly review how things are going with you, usually through short, friendly meetings or catch‑ups, and we celebrate every bit of progress, no matter how small. If we feel more specialist advice would help, we will talk this through with you first and, with your permission, work with outside professionals such as speech and language therapists, health visitors, or educational psychologists. Throughout the whole process, you are our key partner: we listen carefully to your views, share ideas that you can try at home, and adjust our support based on what works best for your child. Our aim is for you to feel informed, involved, and reassured that your child is understood, valued, and fully included in nursery life.
People Working Together for Your Child’s SEND Support
At our nursery, a team of caring adults works closely together to understand and support your child. Our Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO), Jenny and Ellie leads on SEND. They listen to your concerns, help identify your child’s needs, plan support, and review progress with you regularly. Your child’s key person builds a warm, trusting relationship with your child, notices what helps them learn and feel safe, and shares this with you in everyday language.
The manager makes sure our whole setting is inclusive, that staff are trained, and that we follow the SEND Code of Practice. They oversee resources, staffing and policies so that support is consistent and well organised for every child and family.
We work in partnership with external professionals such as speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, health visitors and other health or social care staff. With your consent, we share information, follow their advice in our daily practice, and invite them to meetings where needed. We also work with the local authority to plan more specialist support and, where appropriate, contribute to Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans by sharing our observations and records.
Parents are always included in decisions. We explain options clearly, use plain language, and take time to answer questions. If English is not your first language, we can arrange interpreters or provide translated information so you can fully take part. Together, we agree next steps and review what is working for your child.