Dingley's Promise

Dingley's Promise is a non-profit making organisation that supports children with additional needs from 0-5 years. Children are referred to us by health professionals, social care professionals and educational professionals. Parents/ Carers may want to self-refer if they have concerns.

All Dingley's Promise Staff members build good relationships with parents/ carers and find time to up-date them after every session their child attends, either face-to-face or through a home-school diary (if the parent/carer does not collect the child).

We understand that the person who knows their child the best is the parent/carer so the key person allocated to each individual family will liaise with them for their views on the support that is required and we work together to deliver that support.

We encourage parents/ carers to regularly look at their child’s learning journey. We have changed to a online journal for our children called Tapestry which enables our familes to not only look at thier childrens learning journal, but to contribute to the journal through adding observations at home on new learning through play skills learnt, more than this we can also add little sippet videos for parents to see how a child has made progress, which they can then show extended family members. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and compile regular reports for parents/carers. 

Every child who attends Dingley's Promise has an individual learning plan or a SAAP/EHCP which is the new forms which focus on the areas of learning that are important for them and to help them learn new skills. Activities are highly motivating allowing children to become engaged and interested in learning.  When planning activities individual children’s needs and interests are taken into account.

We use the following teaching stratergies depending on needs of the child:

• Modelling activities/ hand -over - hand approach
• Giving children enough processing time.
• Using key words in communication and simple instructions.
• Picture prompts (choosing boards)
• First and then boards - the 'then' is used as a motivator to encourage children to partake in the 'first' learning activity.
• Using each childs interest to learn and develop a new skill.
• Teach
• Tapestry
• Tac pac sessions

The staff all have or are working towards, a qualification in the children's education at level three. We have in house specific training, Encouraging Posistive Behaviour, Supporting Children with Down's Syndrome and Understanding Autism, for example. Team members have had PECS trainers and from a specialist Speech and Language therapist, OT advice and support training by Children and Young Person Integrated Therapies Service and the pre-school teacher counsellor service, all of which have given them the skills to use strategies effectively and with positive results.

Dingley's Promise operates on a high adult-child ratio compared to most early years settings (1:2 or 1:3 depending on needs). If we feel that the child requires 1:1 support after the child starts with us, we may try to get some additional funding from the council.

The centre has changing facilities so that all children, regardless of their additional needs, are able to be changed safely and securely.

The centre has specialist PAL chairs that are height adjustable as are the tables. We have further specialist seating for children that need. We endeavour to provide equipment for individual children as recommended by their OT or physiotherapist

We have a sensory room where all children benefit, including children with a visual impairment. The sensory room creates a stimulating and yet calming atmosphere and amongst other things can help to improve hand - eye coordination and develop language skills.

We also have a Family Support Worker that works with inidivual families and children, but also runs regular coffee mornings, and Saty & Play sessions.

We monitor the child’s progress on a termly basis using the online Developmental Journal - Tapestry. All parents/carers are informed on a regular basis how their child is progressing. Parents/carers are encouraged to look at and contribute to their child’s online learning journey to record the child’s achievements at both home and the centre.

We meet with our families three times a year to share experiances/progress and agree together at what age band a child is developing at and recognise next steps to support further development.

Achievements from home is being set up to celebrate and share in the centre by parents/carers completing a ‘WOW moments’ note which records a specific new skill, ‘slept all through the night’ for example.

Every child has an individual education plan,or SAAP as they are currently changing, which is written after discussions with the parent/carers and achievable targets are set for both the centre and for home. These plans are reviewed regularly and new targets are then set, again in discussion with the parents/carers.

We make use of a lot of specialist equipment for example appropriate seating and standing frames to make sure that children have equal access to all activities. We use non-verbal aids (PECS, Makaton and choosing boards) to enhance the understanding of verbal communication. This gives every child an opportunity to voice their interests.

All children are made to feel welcome and our trips are always inclusive. We work on a child to adult ratio of 1:1 and encourage parents/carers and siblings to accompany us on trips if they wish to do so. We will hire transport, such as a coach, where possible to enable us to travel together as a group. We have an outings policy and risk assessments are completed before any trip.

We have wheelchair access both to the building and outside areas. 

We try to make the child as independant/prepared as possible to go to school. We discuss with the parent/carers the amount of support that their child requires and we work with the parents/carers to ensure there is a smooth transition between Dingley and the next setting.

This can include inviting staff from the next setting/school and visit the new setting/school with the key person and the child so that the child is in a new environment but with a familiar person. this continues until the child is fully supported and comfortable in their new environment.

Observations are kept on children from the day that they start with us which we relate to the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework where individual children’s development is tracked and reported back to parents/carers. The individual learning plans are reviewed regularly and new targets discussed and agreed. All of which help to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SEN provision.

We arrange to meet with our familes three times per year to share together progress and next steps, and agree together the age and stage of development thier are progressing at.

We have an annual parent/carers survey which is available online or as a paper version. All parents are encouraged to complete the survey and the results are shared with the Group Operations Manager and Board of Directors. The results, including actions, are then published and displayed at each centre and on the Dingley website.  www.dingley.org.uk.

We have regular external evaluations(every 18 months), where an independant advisor accesses the effectiveness of the provision by talking to the practitioners, health and education professionals and parents/carers have the opportunity to discuss their views.

Parents/carers who are self referring can access a referral form from our website www.dingley.org.uk. 

Health/education professionals can refer by sending an update report and a letter of referral or completion of the referral form.

We can be contacted by post:

Dingley's Promise

Poplar Place

Shaw

Newbury RG14 1NA

By Telephone: 01635 552458

Or by Email: admin.westberks@dingley.org.uk. 

louise.farmer@dingley.org.uk

07498922903

We have a box for any feedback, compliments and complaints which the Manager and deputy review on a regular basis and share the findings with the Group Operations Manager and the Board of Directors. We will ensure that all complaints are investigated and any completed actions will be reported back to the parents/carers.

Parents/carers also have the opportunity to give feedback at the annual parent survey and the external evaluation.