Due to COVID-19 restrictions our coffee mornings this year are online.

Look out for the text reminders and emails with the link to join us.

Coming up: Sleep

Help your SEND child thrive

Early Years Curriculum Focus

Autmn Term 2020-2021

This term we have managed to organise 3 coffee mornings using TEAMS.

Thank you to everyone who bore with us and a huge well done to Sarah, who navigated the complex technical difficulties and made it happen.

19th November 2020

Applying for Primary Schools- with input from Douglas Shaw the Bi-borough Admissions team manager and Westminster IASS talking through the process and support available.

Please do contact if a member of the Federation team if you have further questions, or if you would like to have a chat.

3rd December 2020

Toilet Training with advice from the Health Visitor Team and Helen Chin-Fatt Deputy Head Queens Park Family Hub

“The most important point is to remember that very child is different and may be physically and psychologically ready for toilet training at different times”

Please do speak to your child’s Family Worker or Key Person if you are starting toilet training as it is important to have a consistent approach between Nursery and home. We can help you to develop a plan for your child.

10th December 2020

An Introduction To Local Services for SENDWe had representatives from a range of local service who introduced themselves and talked about their role and how to access their services. These were: Family Lives, Parent Child+ programme, Make It Happen- Westminster Parent Participation Group, Westminster IASS, and the Westminster Local Offer.

19th November 2020- Applying for Primary Schools

Douglas Shaw, who is the admissions manager for the bi-borough (Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea), joined us to outline the application process, in particular how to use the online application service, key dates and things to consider when choosing schools. He shared some helpful slides which are attached. Douglas mentioned that last year 98% of the applications were submitted online, however if you are struggling with the website you can phone them and they will send you a paper form instead. The contact details are on the slides.

Douglas showed us the Westminster Primary School Admissions brochure which has information on all the Primary schools in Westminster (this is attached). He mentioned that every borough produces one of these so look online for the Kensington & Chelsea or Brent admissions brochure too if you are close to the borough border. You can select schools from a different borough to the one you live in.

Go to our 'Latest News Documents' page to view the slides.

Mahalia Smith also joined us from Westminster Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS). If your child has any special educational needs and you would like information about starting school you can get lots of information on their website or call and make an appointment to have a chat. The email is http://www.westminsteriass.co.uk and the number is 0207 641 5355. She suggested helping your child get ready for school in advance, for example by talking to them, taking them on a walk to the school, getting into routines such as bed-time, getting used to the uniform before starting. She suggested investigating the school's transition and settling in policies, for example do they produce a welcome pack? do they do home visits?

If your child already has an Education, Health and Care Plan which is finalised, the school placement will be done separately through Westminster SEN department. If your child requires an EHCP but it is not yet finalised you will need to apply to school through the normal process (as outlined by Douglas in the slides) and then you will have the option of selecting a more specialist or specific school later when the EHCP is finalised by the Westminster SEN department. In the meantime, though you should apply for and accept a school placement through the normal process.

We are very aware that it is not possible to visit schools at the moment and that this would normally be our first piece of advice to you. It is important to try to get a feel for schools and which school will be right for your child. Ideas for gathering information about schools are:

• thinking about what are the priorities for you and your child​

• talking to other parents with older children at schools

• exploring school websites - do they have a video?

• calling the school and asking questions

• walking to the school- trying out the journey, having a look from the outside

• making an appointment to have a chat with your child's family worker/ key person or a member of the Nursery team

• You might want to consider things like the size of the school, the ethos and priorities of the school (their vision), how play-based the Early Years curriculum is, what enrichment opportunities they offer (forest school, trips etc.), how they support children with additional needs (read their SEN Information Report), what community events they have, and so on.

3rd December 2020- Toilet Training

Health Visitors Joy and Adetola talked about the ERIC website an evidence-based approach to toilet training that the health visitor team use when advising families.

They emphasised that every child is different and may be physically and psychologically ready for toilet training at different times. They talked about the importance of looking for the signs that your child is ready, then involving your child in developing their skills of independence and self-awareness around toileting. Reading books, talking and showing your child by example are good ways to do this.They recommended staying calm and using praise.

See the Potty-training website (ERIC) link:

https://www.eric.org.uk/Pages/Category/potty-training