Harriet House Montessori School

We have a SENCO co-ordinator who works across all the age groups. Children are observed on a regular weekly basis and needs are identified through these observations and weekly staff meetings. The parents are part of these continual assessments by providing observations of their own for their Learning Journeys; If a child needs extra support or an IPP/IEP put in place then the parents are consulted and these are put in place. Should one to one support be decided upon this again is discussed with the parents.

Staff talk to the parents most days to say how the child's day has gone.  If there was a need for additional support to be put in place then a meeting would be arranged and this would be discussed, a plan would be drawn up that could be used at school and at home.  This would be continually assessed so any additional support or a formal assessment was needed the parents would be fully aware.

Our school is a Montessori school so children very much work to their own ability, guiding their education through their individual interests.  This environment allows for any child with additional needs to be able to access what they need to progress and the school would endeavour to provide whatever the child would benefit from to address his/her needs.

Every child in the Nursey has their own keyworker.  This allows for the staff to have small groups to oversee and to be able to observe and plan effective activities accordingly.  Children with additional needs or learning difficulties are identified and their needs are addressed through their interests but alongside the other children so they feel part of our community.  Our classes are small so we are able to differentiate easily allowing children to develop at their own pace and with one-to one support if necessary.

We have one to one support staff within the school who work with children who find certain areas of the curriculum challenging.  We have IPP/IEP plans in place which are regularing assessed and updated with staff and parents alike.  If at any point an Educational Psychologist is required the school would put this into place.

As above:  Parents are fully involved in their child's progress at Harriet House and regular meetings are arranged to monitor the child's needs inside and outside the classroom.  These plans are in written form and shared with the parents on a regular basis.

We also have Tapestry which is an online assessment and observation tool that is regularly updated and the parents can access.

All children are included in every area of the curriculum and the different activities at Harriet House.  Should a child need support in being able to access some of these activities then the school would put whatever the strategies the child needs in place.  We are a community and that includes everybody.

All areas of the school building have wheelchair access and disabled loo facilities.

Harriet House would work closely with the future school of the child.  this would include a visit from our staff to the new school to meet the teacher and see the environment and make sure that any problems were sorted out before the child's first visit.  Regular contact and trial visits would then be put in place to make the transition as seamless as possible.

We have regular meetings with the SENC co-ordinator and the staff to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the child and that the CPD of the staff is up to date and meeting national criteria.  The parents are very welcome to discuss our provision and make any contributions they may have to make sure we are providing the very best for our children.

Please contact Harriet Hathaway who is our Headmistress.

The school has a feedback form to help us evaluate the environment we have and the curriculum we provide for the children.  It is also an opportunity for the parents to put any ideas or points of view forward to the school.  We hae a complaints policy and procedure that the parents can access should they wish.  We have a very open door policy here at Harriet House and parents feel they can come and see us when they want.