Special Educational Needs and Disability
(S.E.N.D) Policy
The Nursery’s named Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCo) is
Ellen Nicholas.
The SENCo supports practitioners with assessing the effectiveness of S.E.N.D.
interventions, problem solving and advising on effective practice.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2014 require
that EYFS providers make reasonable adjustments to include those with
special educational seeds and/or disabilities.
A child is considered to have special educational needs:
“If they have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for special educational
provision to be made for him or her”
The Nursery publishes it’s “Local Offer” in conjunction with Essex County
Council.
In accordance with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of
Practice 2014 the Nursery promotes: Inclusion in experiences and activities alongside their peers.
 Early identification of children’s needs.
 Early intervention to meet those needs.
 The importance of children and parents/carers being central to
decision making.
 Multi-agency collaboration.
All children attending the Nursery are observed by practitioners on a regular
basis, the child’s Key Person will enter these observations in the child’s
Learning Journal, which is available for the child’s parents to view at any
time.
Practitioners carry out a base-line assessment of all children twice a year and
a Progress Check at age two if the University of Essex Day Nursery is the
primary care provider when shared care is in place. The results of these
assessments are shared with parents/ carers.
The Key Person will share any concerns about the child’s progress with the
child’s parents/ carers and the Nursery SENCo. The Nursery SENCo will use
their knowledge and experience and may make recommendations such as,
a referral to Speech and
Language Therapy or that further advice is sought from the Area SENCo who
is employed by the Local Authority.
The Key Person and SENCo will work with the child’s parents/ carers and any
outside agencies to develop a Learning Plan for the child. This will be
regularly reviewed in accordance with the Code of Practice’s “Assess, plan,
do, review”.
The SENCo and/or Key Person will attend and contribute to any meetings with
outside professionals for example Team around the Child meetings.
If the child’s difficulties are such that they are likely to need additional
support when they start school the Key Person/SENCo will develop a “One
Plan” in conjunction with the child’s parents.
This will include the child’s learning plan, assessments and recommendations
from outside professionals.
Parents are able to request an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Formally a Statement of Special Educational Needs if the child is likely to
need a high level of specialist provision at school.
The Nursery will not contact another professional about a child without
parental consent unless there are concerns about safeguarding or the child’s
needs are not being met.
The Nursery monitors the S.E.N.D. Policy by reviewing at least annually or if
there are any changes to legislation.
If parents or carers have any concerns about the Nursery S.E.N.D. provision
please speak to the SENCo or Nursery Manager.