Special educational needs/disability policy

Intent
We provide an environment in which all children are supported to reach their full potential.

Aims

• We have regard for the DFES Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.
• We include all children in our provision.
• We provide practitioners to help support parents and children with special educational needs (SEN)/disabilities.
• We identify the specific needs of children with SEN/disabilities and meet those needs through a range of strategies.
• We work in partnership with parents and other agencies in meeting individual children’s needs.
• We monitor and review our practice and provision and, if necessary, make adjustments.

Methods

• We designate a member of staff to be Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) and give his/her name to parents.
• We provide a statement showing how we provide for children with SEN/disabilities.
• We ensure that the provision for children with SEN/disabilities is the responsibility of all members of the setting.
• We ensure that our inclusive admissions practice ensures equality of access and opportunity.
• We ensure that our physical environment is as far as possible suitable for children with disabilities.
• We work closely with parents of children with SEN/disabilities to create and maintain a positive partnership.
• We ensure that parents are informed at all stages of the assessment, planning, provision and review of their children’s education.
• We provide parents with information on sources of independent advice and support.
• We liaise with other professionals involved with children with SEN/disabilities and their families, including transfer arrangements to other settings and schools.
• We use the graduated response system for identifying, assessing and responding to children’s special educational needs.
• We provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all children with SEN/disabilities.
• We provide a differentiated curriculum to meet individual needs and abilities.
• We use a system of planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reviewing individual educational plans (IEPs) for children with SEN/disabilities.
• We ensure that children with SEN/disabilities are appropriately involved at all stages of the graduated response, taking into account their levels of ability.
• We use a system for keeping records of the assessment, planning, provision and review for children with SEN/disabilities.
• We provide resources (human and financial) to implement our SEN/disability policy.
• We ensure the privacy of children with SEN/disabilities when intimate care is being provided.
• We provide in-service training for practitioners and volunteers.
• We raise awareness to parents of all specialized training our setting has to offer, e.g. Makaton trained staff.
• We ensure the effectiveness of our SEN/disability provision by collecting information from a range of sources e.g. IEP reviews, staff and management meetings, parental and external agencies views, inspections and complaints. This information is collated, evaluated and reviewed annually.
• We provide a complaints procedure.
• We monitor and review our policy annually.
• Assigned SENCO for Little Munchkins Pre-School is Angela Whitefield
• Assigned SENCO for Little Munchkins Nursery is Debbie Chadwick 
• Senior SENCO for Little Munchkins is Amanda Gregory (Partner)