SEN Inclusion at West Walton Nursery School

Every Child Matters

At West Walton Nursery School, we believe that every child is unique and deserves the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive in an environment where they feel safe, valued and included.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, nurturing and supportive environment where children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) are welcomed, respected and fully included in nursery life.

Our aim is to identify children’s individual strengths and needs as early as possible and work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that every child receives the right support at the right time.

Our Inclusive Approach

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that children develop at different rates and that some children may need additional support to access learning, communication, play and everyday experiences.

Our experienced team takes time to get to know each child as an individual, including their interests, strengths, preferences and areas where they may need additional help.

We adapt our environment, activities and teaching approaches to ensure that children can participate meaningfully and experience success.

This may include:

• Adapting activities to meet individual needs
• Providing additional adult support where appropriate
• Using visual prompts, symbols, gestures and other communication strategies
• Providing sensory experiences and appropriate sensory support
• Developing individualised learning opportunities
• Breaking activities into manageable steps
• Supporting children’s communication and language development
• Making reasonable adjustments to our environment and routines
• Working at each child’s individual pace
• Building on children’s interests to encourage engagement and learning

Early Identification and Support

Early identification is an important part of our approach to inclusion. Our practitioners observe children carefully and use their knowledge of child development to identify where a child may benefit from additional support.

Where we have concerns about a child’s development, we work sensitively with parents and carers to share our observations and agree the best way forward.

We follow a graduated approach to support, which means that we assess a child’s needs, plan appropriate support, put this support in place and review its effectiveness.

We focus on what children can do, celebrating their progress and identifying the next steps that will help them develop further.

Working in Partnership with Families

Parents and carers know their children best, and we believe that strong partnerships with families are essential to successful inclusion.

We encourage open and honest communication and involve parents and carers throughout the process of identifying, planning and reviewing support.

Together, we can share information about a child’s development, interests, strengths and needs and work towards positive outcomes.

We value the knowledge and expertise that families bring and ensure that their views are listened to and respected.

Our SENCO’s. 

Lucy Diggle & Anny Rose

Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) works closely with children, families and practitioners to coordinate SEND support within the nursery.

The SENCO:

• Supports staff in identifying and responding to children’s individual needs
• Helps practitioners plan appropriate learning experiences
• Works closely with parents and carers
• Coordinates individual support and reviews
• Liaises with external professionals when appropriate
• Supports referrals and applications for additional advice or provision
• Helps ensure that the nursery remains inclusive and accessible
• Supports staff training and professional development in relation to SEND

Working with Other Professionals

Where appropriate, we work in partnership with other professionals and services to ensure that children and families receive coordinated support.

This may include working with professionals such as:

• Health visitors
• Speech and language therapists
• Early years inclusion teams
• Educational psychologists
• Paediatricians
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Specialist teachers and advisory services
• Local authority SEND services

We value a multi-agency approach and, with parental consent, share relevant information to help ensure that support is joined up and focused on the individual child.

Supporting Communication and Language

We recognise that communication is fundamental to children’s learning, relationships and wellbeing.

Our practitioners provide a language-rich environment where children are encouraged to communicate in ways that are meaningful to them.

We support children through conversation, stories, songs, rhymes, play and carefully planned interactions. Where appropriate, we use visual resources, gestures, objects, symbols and other communication strategies to help children understand and express themselves.

Supporting Transitions

Transitions can be particularly important for children with additional needs. We take time to plan transitions carefully and work with families and professionals to help children feel secure and confident.

This may include:

• Additional settling-in visits
• Visual timetables and photographs
• Visits to new rooms or settings
• Individual transition plans
• Sharing information with the child’s next setting
• Meetings with parents and professionals
• Familiar objects, routines or adults to provide reassurance

Our aim is to make every transition as positive and predictable as possible.

A Strengths-Based Approach

We believe that every child brings their own unique strengths, interests and talents.

Rather than focusing solely on difficulties or areas of need, we build on what children can do and use their interests and motivations to support learning and development.

We celebrate progress, however small, and ensure that children experience a sense of achievement, belonging and success.

An Inclusive Community

At West Walton Nursery School, inclusion means more than providing additional support. It means creating a community where every child belongs.

We want all children to develop confidence, independence and positive relationships with others. We encourage children to understand and respect differences and to celebrate the qualities that make each person unique.

Our team is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate, play, learn and develop alongside their peers in a supportive and caring environment.

Our Commitment to Families

If you have concerns about your child’s development or feel that your child may need additional support, please talk to a member of our team.

You do not need to wait for a diagnosis before talking to us.

We are here to listen, work alongside you and help you access appropriate support when needed.

At West Walton Nursery School, every child is valued, every voice is heard and every child is given the opportunity to reach their full potential.