The Local Offer provides information about the support, services and provision available for children and young people aged 0–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and their families.
Local authorities publish information about services across education, health and social care to help parents and carers understand what support is available in their local area and how to access it.
As an early years setting, Holly House Private Day Nursery is committed to providing an inclusive environment where every child can learn, develop and thrive. Our Local Offer explains how we identify and support children with additional needs and how we work in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals.
At Holly House Private Day Nursery, we are committed to the inclusion of every child.
We believe that every child is unique and has the right to be cared for, respected, and supported to achieve their full potential. We provide a positive, welcoming and nurturing environment where children can learn and develop alongside their peers, with support tailored to their individual needs.
We aim to:
At Holly House, every child is treated as a unique individual and is allocated a Key Person who develops a secure and trusting relationship with the child and their family.
Our Key Persons work closely with parents and carers to share information about children’s development, interests, strengths and any concerns. If you have concerns about your child’s development or additional needs, we encourage you to speak to your child’s Key Person or our SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), Sarah Hashemi & Emily Oyston.
Conversations about your child can be arranged privately whenever required.
We use ongoing observations, assessments and our knowledge of each child to monitor their development and identify where additional support may be beneficial. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and use appropriate developmental guidance to help us understand children’s progress.
We also welcome information from health visitors, speech and language therapists, paediatricians, occupational therapists and other professionals involved with your child. With your permission, these reports and recommendations can help us plan appropriate support.
We complete the statutory Progress Check at Age Two, providing parents and carers with a written summary of their child’s development in the three prime areas:
If an additional need is identified, we will discuss this with you and work together to agree appropriate next steps and support.
Our SENCO can also seek advice and support from relevant local authority services, with parental consent where appropriate.
If you have any concerns about your child’s development, please talk to us as soon as possible.
You can speak with:
We welcome conversations with parents and carers and understand that you know your child best. Your observations, concerns and knowledge of your child’s needs are an important part of our assessment and planning process.
We will listen to your concerns, share our observations, and work with you to identify appropriate support.
Every child at Holly House has a key person who will develop a strong understanding of your child’s individual needs, interests, strengths, and personality.
Before your child starts nursery, we ask you to complete an “All About Me” form. This helps us understand your child’s routines, interests, communication, development, preferences, and any additional support they may need.
Where appropriate, we may create an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or other individual support plan with you. This will identify achievable targets and strategies to support your child’s development.
Support may include:
Your child’s key person will monitor progress towards agreed targets and work closely with the SENCO.
We will regularly review your child’s support with you and agree on new targets and strategies where appropriate.
We operate an open-door approach, encouraging parents and carers to communicate with us regularly about their child’s development and wellbeing.
Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is adapted to reflect each child’s individual stage of development, interests, strengths and needs.
We use observations, assessments, and developmental information to identify appropriate next steps for each child.
Where additional support is required, an individual plan may be developed by the SENCO and Key Person in partnership with parents and carers.
We may use a range of strategies, including:
We aim to involve children in decisions about their learning wherever possible, supporting them to make choices and communicate their preferences.
Parents and carers can access their child’s learning records and progress information and are encouraged to contribute to their child’s learning journey.
Where appropriate, we will seek additional training for staff to ensure they have the knowledge and skills required to support individual children’s needs.
We use a range of assessment and observation methods to monitor children’s progress, including:
Your child’s Key Person plans learning experiences around their individual interests, development and identified targets.
Where an individual plan is in place, we will regularly review progress with you and discuss how you can support your child’s development at home.
We value two-way communication and encourage parents and carers to speak to us regularly about their child’s progress, achievements or any concerns.
If you are unable to attend nursery regularly, we can maintain communication through telephone calls, email or other agreed methods.
The wellbeing of every child is central to our approach.
Our practitioners provide a warm, welcoming and supportive environment and act as positive role models for children’s behaviour and relationships.
If a child requires additional support with their behaviour, emotions or social development, we will work with the child and their family to understand the underlying needs and agree consistent strategies.
Where appropriate, an individual behaviour or support plan may be developed.
Where necessary, we can put individual healthcare plans in place and ensure that staff receive appropriate training to meet a child’s medical needs.
If your child requires prescribed medication to be administered at nursery, the appropriate medication forms and parental consent will be required. A named member of staff will be responsible for administering medication in accordance with our policies and procedures.
We can also adapt activities and the environment to support children’s participation and independence.
Visual resources such as timetables, now-and-next boards, symbols and emotion cards may be used where appropriate to support communication, understanding and emotional wellbeing.
All staff have experience of working with children in the early years and receive ongoing training and professional development.
We work in partnership with parents and carers and, where appropriate, with professionals involved in supporting individual children.
These may include:
We can work with the Leeds Inclusion Support Service, which provides advice and support to early years practitioners. Support may include telephone advice, observations, recommendations for strategies, planning next steps and signposting to relevant training.
Our SENCO also attends relevant network meetings to remain up to date with current guidance, local services and good practice.
We have links with local children’s and family centers, including:
Chapel Allerton Children’s Centre
Blake Grove
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS7 3LT
Tel: 0113 378 8840
Manor Wood Children’s Centre
Carr Manor Road
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS17 5DJ
Tel: 0113 269 3515
Our SENCOs attend relevant SENCO network meetings and training to maintain and develop their knowledge of SEND provision and current guidance.
All staff undertake regular training and development, and a record of staff training is maintained by the nursery.
Staff training has included areas such as:
We will seek additional training where necessary to support the individual needs of children attending Holly House.
Training records are available to view on request.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to participate in outings and experiences outside the nursery.
Trips and outings are planned with inclusion in mind. We will work with parents and carers to identify any additional support or reasonable adaptations that may be required.
Where appropriate, we may:
We aim to make our indoor and outdoor environments as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Our garden can be accessed via the gate at the top of the drive or through the ages and up the ramp at the bottom of the garden.
We can make reasonable adaptations to activities, resources and the environment to support children’s participation.
For children and families who speak English as an additional language, we can use visual resources, translated information and, where appropriate, support from family members or other suitable communication arrangements.
We use visual cues, pictures and other communication aids where these help children to understand routines, expectations and activities.
If there are physical limitations within our building, we will discuss these openly with families and consider what reasonable adaptations can be made to enable a child to access the nursery as fully as possible.
We understand that starting nursery or moving to a new setting can be a significant change for children and families.
Before your child starts, we will allocate a Key Person and gather information about your child’s needs, interests, routines and experiences.
We offer three free settling-in sessions, with flexibility around the settling-in process where a child needs additional time and support.
Where helpful, we can create a photo book or visual information for your child to use at home so they can become familiar with:
We will work with you to develop a consistent approach and, where appropriate, liaise with other professionals involved with your child before they start.
When your child moves to another nursery, setting or school, we will support the transition process as much as possible.
With your permission, we can:
We aim to ensure that the receiving setting has the information it needs to understand your child’s strengths, interests and individual support requirements.
The type and level of support provided will be based on your child’s individual needs.
We consider:
The SENCO will work with you, your child’s Key Person and other professionals, where appropriate, to agree suitable strategies and targets.
Support will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate and continues to help your child make progress and develop independence.
Where additional specialist support or funding may be appropriate, we can discuss the relevant processes with you and signpost you to the appropriate services.
Parents and carers are an essential part of the SEND support process.
We encourage you to be involved in:
We will seek your consent before making contact with outside agencies where appropriate.
We value your knowledge and expertise as your child’s parent or carer and believe that the strongest outcomes are achieved when we work together.
If you would like to discuss your child’s needs before they start nursery, or if you have any questions about our SEND provision, please contact:
Emily Oyston
Deputy manager & Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
Holly House Private Day Nursery
62 Wensley Drive
Leeds
LS7 3QW
Email: info@holyhousenursery.com
Website: www.hollyhousenursery.com
You are also welcome to speak to your child’s Key Person or the SENCO at any time if you have questions, concerns or would like to discuss your child’s progress.
