The Rainbow Nursery

* Through continual observation of a child's behaviour, traits and responses to others, starting with - home visits if needed, stay and play sessions and a tailored transition starting nursery. information from parents/carers and other professionals,& nbsp; initial trial sessions, 2 year checks (if applicable), weekly individual Early Years Foundation Stage, (EYFS)& nbsp;observations.

* By assessment against the EYFS ages and stages guidelines.

* By completing an Alert form and communicating with parents.

Using a Plan, Assess Do and Review approach to identify a need for a Graduated Approach. Then providing a detailed Support and Achievement Play Plan (SaPP) unique to the Childs needs.

* By an open and welcoming 2 way communication flow, listening to the views of  yourselves.

* Through building a relationship with your child's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo).

* By your child's key person being available before and after the sessions to discuss concerns you may have, and together plan the next steps.

* Through regular more formal meetings to discuss your child's Support & Play Plan, (SaPP), with the SENCo and their key person and when appropriate invite professionals to come to plan next steps and targets together.

* At termly parent consultation meetings and an end of year transition reports are shared and discussed.

*Weekly key person groups meet, to discuss your child.

*Through observing your child, individual planning is carried out, taking into consideration, their ages and stages of development, and personal interests.

*Taking into account your child's characteristics of learning.

Support & Play Plans will be agreed, by yourselves and specific outcomes set, for both the nursery and the home to work towards.

The Nursery will source appropriate training as necessary to further develop our knowledge and understanding of the specific need.

* Teaching strategies and additional support are put in place according to your child's SaPP, ie children with hearing difficulties are seated in the most beneficial place for them to hear at group time. Children who are recognised as being on the autistic spectrum may have visual timetables and have added support in group activities.* If the Nursery is unsure of the most suitable strategy to use, professional help will be sought. In the first instance we would seek advice from the West Berkshire Early Years Quality Team and the Early Development Inclusion Team (EDIT) at West Berkshire.

*Depending on the need, interventions will be offered in small groups or one to one, ie if socialising with other children is prooving difficult, games and stories in small groups will be encouraged with adult support.

*We have a 'Kindness Tree'. Each child has an individual leaf which is placed on the tree when a child has expressed kindness to others.

Books are used as a tool to encourage children to think about their actions and feelings towards others.

 *If behaviour is causing concerns, reference to 'The Rainbow Wishes' will always be encouraged, ie we are kind to each other. Positive methods of guidance for children will be used, ie re-direction, anticipation and removal of potential problems, positive reinforcement and encouragement.

*Behavioural concerns will be handled in a developmentally appropriate fashion, respecting individual children's level of understanding and maturity.

*The Nursery has a close relationship with Early Development Inclusion Team (EDIT), who can advise on availability of additional support.

*Through open communication with parents/carers, The Nursery will discuss and agree level of additional support required.

*The Rainbow assesses a child's progress using the ages and stages of the EYFS.

Using Development Matters and Characteristics of Early Learning Goals.

*Two year checks are carried out, (if applicable), with input from parents/carers and agreed targets set.

Alert forms are created with agreement from parents/carers and specific targets are set, which are reviewed regularly.

*SaPP's are reviewed at least termly, with parents/carers and outside professionals if relevant.

Your child's progress, together with termly parent consultation meetings are carried out. Targets and 'next steps' for your child are discussed and agreed by the Nursery and parents/carers.

*Transition Reports are written in the summer term, for your child, leaving in the July to go to school.

If your child attends two settings,we initiate contact with their other nursery and attempt to gain information about them.

*Each term we track your child's progress against the criteria set down by the EYFS.

*Detailed planning in key person groups, including carrying out risk assessments, determine the level of support children require in joining in activites ie when hand printing with paint is planned, children are given the choice to use other materials rather than paint.

*Monthly Newsletters

*A daily board, informing parents/carers of main activity displayed outside.

*The building is single storey.

*There are double doors for wheel chair access.

*Ramp up to the entrance doors.

* There is a disabled toilet.

Children can stay until 3.00 pm, to prepare them for the longer school day.

* Teachers from your child's school are invited to the Nursery to be introduced to them. You will be informed when they are coming.

* School visits are arranged for the children. If appropriate their key person may accompany them.

*During group time, children are encouraged to talk about their new school. The Nursery has a 'Transition Bag', which is shared at circle time, to help the children find out about new routines, uniform etc. 

*The Transition Report is passed to the relevant person at your child's next school.

*The Rainbow's SEN Policy is reviewed at least yearly.

*Discussed and agreed in our Staff meetings.

*Regular reviews of SEF with staff at staff meetings.

Parents/carers receive all copies of our Policies on starting at the setting.

Feedback from parents/carers is encouraged at the SAPP (Support and Play Plan) meetings.

*Sam & Eliza Lee are the co-owners of The Rainbow and are supported by our manager/Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENcO) Charlie & Deputy and Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSL) Eliza. You can contact them via the following: 07984685504/07376312287

E-mail address - rainbowmontessori@outlook.com

* Nursery Manager always on door welcoming parents/carers to setting. She is available to talk to daily.

* Anonymous questionnaires sent to new parents/carers asking for their views regarding the 'settling in' process.

* Anonymous questionnaires sent to parents/carers asking for their views of the Nursery.

* Any concerns related to the comments from the Questionnaires are discussed and addressed if appropriate.

The Nursery uses a software called 'Tapestry' which allows parents to easily access and comment on their child's progress as well as sharing events and milestones from home life.

* Parents/carers all have access to the Rainbow's 'Complaints Policy'.