Hamstel Infant School and Nursery: Nursery - Early years and education

At Hamstel there is always a warm welcome awaiting you and an environment that is both happy and safe, where we are all working, playing and achieving together.

School Nursery

Our Nursery is a happy, thriving learning environment for 3 and 4 year olds. Housed in a purpose-designed building within the grounds of Hamstel Infant School it is an important part of our school community. We have recently appointed a Nursery Teacher, Miss Spelman, and a range of improvements have been made to the bright, vibrant indoor learning spaces, as well as our safe and secure outdoor spaces.

We offer 30 hour funded places to children from eligible families, with full day sessions running from 9:00am - 3:00pm. 15 hour funded places are also available (subject to demand): Morning Sessions: 9:00-12:00, Afternoon Sessions: 12:00-3:00pm. Sessions run from Monday to Friday, term time only. Children should be eligible for the Free Early Years Provision for 3 and 4 year olds. 

office@his.porticoacademytrust.co.uk

www.hamstelinfants.co.uk

Information about support for special educational needs and disabilities.

Petra Verkooijen. Call 01702 468461. Email office@his.porticoacademytrust.co.uk

How does the setting/school/college know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

Prior to your child starting with us in Nursery we discuss any relevant information about your child to ensure that there is a smooth transition and that appropriate resources are in place to support your child. With your permission we seek further information from previous settings or any health care or other professionals if we feel this will assist a good start to your child joining us. 

The schools SENCo (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator) oversees any special needs your child may need supporting. We have a team approach to supporting all children and the school has an experienced Inclusion Team to provide wrap around care whilst your child is with us. The SENCo is Mrs Verkooijen.

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

How will the teaching be adapted for my child with SEND?

Personalised support plans are drawn up with parents and carers to ensure your child's needs are met. Individual support plans (ISP's) are overseen by the SENCo in discussion with the Nursery Manager and parents and carers on a regular basis. 

Our experienced staff include:

Mrs Lisa Clark, Headteacher, is responsible for the day to day management of all aspects of the School and Nursery, this includes the support and provision for children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities). The Headteacher gives first line responsibility to the SENCo and the Nursery Manager for day to day provision but is still holds overall responsibility to ensure your child's needs are met. The Headteacher will ensure governance of Portico Academy Trust is kept up to date about any issues relating to SEND within the Nursery. 

Mrs Petra Verkooijen, SENCo is responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of SEND, support and provision with the Nursery. The SENCo has responsibility to ensure appropriate conversations take place with parents and carers and that needs are met.  The SENCo has very good links with many local agencies to provide support and advice.

How will the cirriculum be matched to my child's/young persons needs?

Ensuring appropriate and inclusive activities are planned is the role of the Nursery Manager, overseen by the SENCo. Activities are planned according to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework to ensure the specific needs of the children are met. Nursery Assistants are experienced in working with children with needs and are able to support this approach. Activities can be differentiated to meet any needs where we are able to do so. 

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me support my child's/young person's learning?

For any child attending our Nursery who has identified special needs an Individual Support Plan will be drawn up by the Nursery Manager and SENCo with the parents / carers to ensure all needs are met. We see this as a shared responsibility for the best interests of the child. We encourage open dialogue to support the success of an ISP. A child have more specific needs which may require more support, this will be address through the EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) process. We welcome any child who has an EHCP, or is in the process of applying for such support if we are able to fully meet their needs. 

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall wellbeing?

Hamstel Nursery is a nurturing environment as recognised through our Nation Whole School Nurture Award. All staff are trained in our nurture approach to be able to recognise need and to support all children.

There is a dedicated team to support all children, including our Inclusion Manager, Mrs Andrea Esp and our Well-Being Manager, Mrs Laurie Soane.

Weekly Inclusion meetings are held each week to discuss any child who has been flagged as in need of additional help. It is the remit of this team to discuss the best way forward to support your child.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school/setting/college?

There is a highly trained team of First Aiders across the school and within our Nursery. We have various levels of trained staff to support all medical needs and where specialist support is required we call upon outside agencies and training partners to up-skill our staff to be able to provide for your child's individual needs. 

The administration of medicines is very important with such young children and we have a separate policy and procedure for this to ensure we meet all current regulations.

Staff are qualified to the appropriate recognised levels and receive regular updated training.

The Nursery has strong established links with outside agencies across the borough and is recognised for it's outstanding provisions for children with SEND.

What training are the staff supporting the children and young people with SEND have had or are having?

The staff are regularly training, either in-house or by external trainers as required. 

Our SENCo and Inclusion Team hold nationally recognised certification of evidence of updated training to meet all needs.

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

Inclusion in all activities for all children is our aim. If there are adaptions required for a child with SEND to be able to fully participate this will be discussed first with the parents or cares to ensure suitability. Parents or carers may be required to support any offsite activities, but this would be through discussion and consent.

How accessible is the setting/school/college environment?

The Nursery is fully wheelchair accessible. There are changing facilities within the Nursery.

If a parent or carer requires a translator to support communication with the Nursery, this can be arranged. Where necessary reports and other written communication can be translated to aid understanding.

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

Hamstel Nursery supports all transition needs and where there is a child who may need additional support this will be provided through additional visits to the next setting, parent or carer support and with support from our Inclusion Team.

We encourage a visit to our Nursery and plan for play and stay sessions where these are able to take place. We also try to do a home visit to be able to see the child in their own setting and to support us in gathering any further information. The child really enjoys our staff being accepted into their home and being able to share some of their special toys and interests with us.

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

Hamstel Nursery as part of Hamstel School provides parent forums in the form of Friends of Hamstel, our fundraising group and also a Parent Council where support and involvement can be discussed.