Our Approach

Ofsted states each nursery should have the 3 I’s by which they build their setting around.

We have developed these 3 I’s to help staff, parents and Ofsted understand our quality of education and how we strive to achieve this.

At Rabbit Patch Day Nursery, we value our community, and are committed to providing inclusive care and support to all individuals.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s learning or development, you can discuss this with your child’s key person or the setting SENCO.

1. How will Rabbit Patch know that children need extra support?

All our staff hold or are training towards a qualification in childcare which supports their knowledge of development and stages of development. Children are assessed within the first 6 weeks of starting at the setting with a baseline assessment. This will then be followed up by a formative assessment termly. During this time, practitioners will identify any areas for development and concerns if there are any. This will be discussed with the parents and carers and the settings SENCO, and any plans put in place to fully support the development of the child.

2. How will my child be supported by the early years staff?

Your child’s Key Person, supported by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) will work closely with you to ensure that your child’s needs are being fully met. Your child will have their own SEN Support Plan (SSP) or an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), depending on their specific needs. Regular progress meetings and transition meetings will be held to review your child’s progress and next steps are discussed with parents, Key Person and SENCO. We are able to work alongside other professionals and jointly agree targets for the SSP.

3. How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

We treat every child as an individual. Using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum we a plan for each child’s individual needs. Any targets we set for a child need to be enjoyable and achievable. We will identify and provide additional resources and support for individual children where needed. Your child’s learning will be documented on Blossom, our online learning platform and you will have access to this. Home observations can be added and chats between setting staff and parents or carers is available.

4. How will both Rabbit Patch and I know how my child is doing, and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?

We have Progress checks at age 2, formative and summative reports in place to track children’s development. Parents evenings are held twice a year to discuss learning and development also. We may sometimes ask you to help us at home with some of the activities that we do at nursery, to support your child’s learning. Outside professionals also provide relevant resources for us to work with in nursery and will provide a second copy for you and your child to use at home. Verbal contact takes place on a daily basis with your Key Person.

We also use Makaton with children throughout the nursery as an additional means of communication.

5. What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?

All staff are welcoming and friendly and are trained Early Years Practitioners. We strive to provide warm, caring and nurturing child care, in a stimulating learning environment. All our staff are paediatric first aid trained. Should a child require any specialist medication, the relevant staff would attend training, to ensure appropriate support.

6. What specialist services and expertise are available or accessed by the early years setting?

The SENCO at the setting undertakes regular meetings to keep up to date with relevant knowledge, polices and procedures. All staff are trained to level 2 in Makaton, which is an additional form of communication. We also have good links with the Early Years Childcare Advisor who is on hand to support in any way. The EYCA is available to come to the setting and undertake meeting or assessments if necessary.

7. What training have the staff supporting children with SEND had or are having?

Our SENCO attends training on a regular basis to keep up to date with relevant knowledge. The staff undergo training on a training platform in regards to understanding Autism. Makaton training is provided and used throughout the nursery.

8. How will my child be included in offsite trips away from the setting?

As we boast a private woodland and over 3 acres of land, there is no need for the setting to undertake offsite trips.

9. How accessible is the early years setting, both inside and outside?

The nursery is purpose built, all on one level. There are no steps within the setting.

Outside we boast an acre of garden which is accessible via one step from the decking. There are handrails in place to aid the children when stepping up or down.

The woodland is also one level although the terrain can be tricky, we support all children in being able to access this.

If English is not your first language, we will seek assistance in translation.

10. How will the setting support my prepare and support my child to join the setting or transfer to a new school/setting?

Settling in sessions are arrange for any new child joining the setting. These organised so the child is able to experience different parts of the day. The first settle is with parents/carers and is an opportunity to gain information about the child. It is also an opportunity for parents/carers to meet the staff and ask ay questions they may have.

When moving rooms within the setting, transition forms are filled out and conversations had between the current and new Key Person. Settles to the new room are organised usually a month prior to moving, depending on the needs of the child. Transition books are created and given out to the children to take home and familiarise themselves and their parents/carers with the staff members of the new room.

When a child is transitioning from a new nursery, where possible, the new Key Person will visit the child at their current setting and find out more about them, their learning and development.

When children are transitioning to school, meetings will take place between the Key Person and the teacher at the new school. Nursery visits are organised to discuss the transition and summative assessments are provided to aid the teachers on where the child is at developmentally.

11. How are the settings resources allocated and matched to the children’s special educational needs?

If your child is identified as having a special educational need or disability the setting can apply for funding to support the child in making progress while with us. This funding will be allocated per child from the Local Authority.

12. How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?

We will arrange a meeting with you where we will discuss the needs of your child with you in confidence. If parents agree, the SENCO will complete relevant forms to request a referral to the relevant service.

Staff meetings within the setting will ensure the staff are all aware of your child’s strength’s and needs and the plans in place to support them.

13. How are parents involved in Rabbit Patch Day Nursery and how can I be involved?

We operate an open-door policy and are always available to discuss any concerns or queries you may have about your child and their learning or development.

Parents are invited to parents evenings to discuss their child’s progress and have access to the learning journal online through the platform Blossom.