Policies
Stuff you need to know...​
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My child has SEND.
I would like to look around. What do I need to do?
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All children and their families are welcome at our setting. We offer visits at 10am and 2pm each day.
Visits can be arranged by calling us on 01332 850 585, emailing us at castledonington@nightingalenurseries.co.uk or messaging via our website www.nightingalenurseries.co.uk.
During your visit a senior member of staff will show you around the setting, introduce you to the team and answer any questions you may have.
How will my child and I be made to feel welcome and how will you get ready for my child coming?
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We are an inclusive setting. Since opening our first setting in 1997, we have supported countless children and their families. We have a highly skilled and experienced work force who have a wealth of knowledge to support the individual needs of our children. Our SENCo is a qualified teacher with a Master’s degree in Education who has been working in the sector for 20 years. She is a qualified SENCo and regularly attends further training to ensure she is up date with all things SEND. Our SENCo works closely with families to ensure the best outcomes are achieved and families are well supported. Staff have weekly meetings to discuss children’s progress and learning which allows us to identify needs and take swift action.
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Prior to starting with us, you will be asked to complete registration forms and share information about your child, for example, if any other professionals are involved with your child, any other settings they attend or if you have any concerns about their development. We will ask you to complete and All About Me booklet, which asks for more detailed information about your child and assists us to create a smooth transition into the setting. We will arrange initial visits prior to your child starting nursery in which you will drop off your child for a short period of time over a few sessions to allow them to get to know the staff, peers and setting, and allow the staff to begin to make bonds with your child. We will add you to our educational platform Blossom, on which you are able to share information from home, communicate with the your child’s key person and enjoy seeing some of the activities your child has been doing.
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When your child starts nursery, they will be assigned a Key Person who will spend lots of time with them and who will facilitate their learning and progress by assessing their starting points through observation and using these to identify their individual next steps. You child’s key worker will be available for you to speak to at handovers, over the phone and via Whatsapp and Blossom. You are invited to arrange parent/ carer meetings with them and/or SENCo as and when you wish. If your child’s key person notices that your child might benefit from any additional support, they will speak to you and the SENCo to agree on an appropriate plan of action. Your child’s key person and the SENCo will work alongside you as you are the person who knows your child best.
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We have good working relationships with lots of professionals in the local area. Our SENCo works closely alongside the wide range of professionals working with children in our setting to implement recommendations and support our children and families.
How accessible are your premises?
Our nursery operates over two floors. We have baby changing facilities on both floors. All of our units have low-level sinks to promote personal hygiene and independence. There are children’s bathrooms attached to the units, with low-level toilets and sinks. The bathrooms are well-stocked with paper towels, flannels, toilet paper, soap and mirrors to promote children’s independence with self-care.
How will you keep my child safe?
Our nursery is a secure premises?
We adhere to a strict Front Door Policy, which means that staff are only permitted to let people in or out who are known to us. People who we do not know are permitted to enter the nursery by appointment only. The implementation of this policy means that we are aware of who is in our nursery at all times, and unauthorised visitors are not permitted to enter the premises. All staff and volunteers have DBS checks. New staff must provide professional references and are given a detailed induction before they are allowed to commence employment.
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Our staff are extremely highly qualified and experienced. The proprietor holds a Certificate in Education, and a BA (Hons) degree in Early Years and Early Years Professional Status. The Leadership and Management Team holds a wide range of qualifications including Masters in Education, PGCE, EYTS, EYPS, Honours Degree and Foundation Degree. Strong and experienced Leadership and Management within the setting means that all staff are supported and ensure high standards of safeguarding and safety are maintained at all times. All staff receive routine training in safeguarding and welfare along with paediatric first aid taught by a registered organisation. Staff are given any additional training considered to be suitable and beneficial. Daily risk assessments are completed to ensure the building and equipment is safe and suitable for use. Staff have experience of using specialist equipment and are able to support children’s individual needs.
How will you communicate with me what my child has done, enjoyed and learnt?
Your child’s key person will ensure you are kept up to date with your child’s achievements each day and share your child’s next steps with you regularly. They will work closely with any other professionals who support your child as well as our nursery SENCo who will oversee your child’s learning and development, guide your child’s key person and make any recommendations and referrals where necessary.
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We encourage you to come into your child’s room at collection time to see them playing and to enable us to provide you with a detailed handover from your child’s key person. We also invite you to attend parent meetings throughout the year and offer these on an as and when basis too. We share your child’s progress with you via our educational program, Blossom. This is a two- way process and we encourage you to upload and share information about the things your child is doing outside of nursery too.
How do you work with other professionals?
Nightingale Nurseries were established in 1997 and some members of our Management team have been with the nursery since it opened. Nightingale Nursery Castle Donington opened over 10 years ago and has been serving the families in the local area ever since. We are very experienced with working and liaising with other professionals and have strong professional relationships with numerous professional agencies in the local area.
What training have you/your staff had in SEND?
All staff have a good knowledge and understanding of children with SEND. They are competent at assessing children and identifying their needs, knowing to take action to refer to the SENCo swiftly if they do have concerns so that we can ensure the best outcomes for our children and families. They ensure that parents/ carers are involved in this process and they recognise that you know your child best.
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Our SENCo has achieved the SENCo qualification as well as being a qualified Primary teacher with a Masters degree in Education. Having worked in the sector for 20 years, she has experience of teaching in SEND schools and supporting many diverse needs of children and their families. We use a range of assessment strategies to identify children’s needs such as Every Child A Talker, Every Child A Mover and the Small Steps document. We use the Graduated Approach to support children’s progress, attend SEND drop-ins, liaise with our Area SENCo and arrange additional support where necessary. Staff are supported in identifying and undertaking any specific additional training to support the children and families within our setting.
How will you adapt play opportunities for my child?
Our nursery is often described as “homely”. We are a long- standing family- run nursery and your child’s care and well- being is paramount. Your child will benefit from a personalised care plan which has been put together with your child’s individual needs in mind to ensure that they can access all of the provision and learning opportunities available. We make relationships with our children and their families our priority and by doing so, we find ways to engage and support your child in the activities which they enjoy.
How will you get ready for my child going to his/her new school?
We have lots of experience with helping children to transition smoothly into their chosen schools, whether this be a mainstream or specialist school. We arrange opportunities for your child’s teacher to come into our nursery to meet the children, as well as arranging visits to your child’s school. Where necessary we can arrange for you to take your child to their new school outside of school hours so they can see the school when it is quiet.
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We host frequent parent meetings throughout the year and in the run- up to school we will discuss your child’s school transition with you and talk about how you feel they can be supported. We can apply for transition funding to support this process if you would like us to.
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We will use the information and observations from Blossom to send a summary of your child’s learning and development to school. We follow the guidance provided by the local authority for school readiness and invite your child’s teacher into nursery to familiarise them with each other. This gives their teacher the opportunity to ask any questions and get to know your child. We can also arrange for your child to visit their school alongside their key worker. We provide the school with Transition Summaries, IEP documents and reports to help the school cater to your child’s needs. We will discuss your child with their new teacher and pass on all of our knowledge so that your child’s teacher is able to implement strategies immediately.
How will you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child's learning?
Your child’s key person will ensure you are kept up to date with your child’s achievements each day and share your child’s next steps with you regularly. They will work closely with any other professionals who support your child as well as our nursery SENCo who will oversee your child’s learning and development, guide your child’s key person and make any recommendations and referrals where necessary.
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We encourage you to come into your child’s room at collection time to see them playing and to enable us to provide you with a detailed handover from your child’s key person. We also invite you to attend parent meetings throughout the year and offer these on an as and when basis too. We share your child’s progress with you via our educational program, Blossom. This is a two- way process and we encourage you to upload and share information about the things your child is doing outside of nursery too.