SEND

A warm welcome to our inclusive community nursery schools and children's centre.

SEND stands for ‘Special Educational Needs and Disability’ and refers to ‘provision that is different from or additional to that normally available to pupils or students of the same age’. We treat every child as a unique individual and strive to build the positive relationships and enabling environment for them to feel secure and thrive.

Our inclusive approach is shaped by 5 key principles:

Every child is unique
Positive relationships, including parent partnership
Providing an enabling environment
High aspirations for learning and development for all children
Building secure foundations- early identification and support

We use a range of supportive strategies and groups that are evidence-based to have a positive impact on areas of child development- including speech and language, attention, behaviour, emotional regulation, sensory processing and learning. We also work with a range of professional therapists who help to guide our work with your child. A child may require some additional support for a period of time whilst they are with us but this does not necessarily mean they will need ongoing support at primary school. There is strong evidence that shows the positive impact of early intervention and support on long term outcomes.

Please don’t hesitate to talk to us if you have any concerns or would like advice. You can speak to your child’s family worker or to Dan, the federation SENDCo (SEND Co-ordinator) - see details below.

We look forward to speaking to you and working together to provide the very best start for your child.

What's On

SENDCo- appointments

Contact Dan, our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo), to discuss any concerns or questions you may have about your child and their development: senco@qpfed.co.uk

or contact Sarah, Head of Inclusion for Mary Paterson and Dorothy Gardner Nursery Schools, on sjupe-byrne@qpfed.co.uk

If your child is in the Treehouse please contact Teresa on: tmaskell@dorothygardner.co.uk

Parent Drop-in appointments with Educational Psychologist

An opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions you might have about your child’s development (for example: learning, communication, interactions, play, behaviour, routines, sleep, parenting tips, SEN)

Contact Dan to book an appointment: senco@qpfed.co.uk

Parent Workshops:

Information

Useful Websites - Westminster SEND links

Westminster SEND Local Offer A wealth of information about SEND, including local support services, education, health, finance, and activities

Westminster Information Advice and Support Service A range of easily accessible information and advice about all aspects of education, health and social care to help you make informed choices and decisions. Information is based on local and national law and guidance.

Make It Happen- Westminster Parents Participation Group This parent led organisation (CIC) is for all Westminster parent and carers of children and adults with special educational needs and/or a disability (up to 25 years). They offer drop-in sessions, information and an opportunity to talk to other parents.

What Speech, Language and Communication Support is Available to my Child?

Speech and Language Therapy in Nursery Overview.pdf

Your child might be included in one of our supportive targeted groups:

Your child may need to be seen by a specialist speech and language therapist in clinic:

Early Years Speech and language therapy information leaflet

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust: Speech and Language Therapy for Children Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster service information

Early Years Referral Form to Speech and Language Therapy Community early years speech and language therapy services operate an open referral system, so anyone can refer to the community early years’ service (tri-borough) for a pre-school child.

Speech and Language Twitter

You can follow the CLCH SLT (speech and language therapy) twitter, where communication tips and resources and shared, using the handle below:

@CLCH_SLT_CHD

If you decide you would like to look for a private speech and language therapist you can look here:

Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice

Useful Information and Websites relating to Areas of Speech, Language and Communication Difficultes:

Alternative and Augmentative Communication

Play a little, Learn a lot 'Play a little, learn a lot' are a collection of play session videos aimed at children with SEN (special educational needs) but they can also be shared and enjoyed by preschool children of any age. As well as sharing the videos with your children they act as a guide to parents/carer's to give ideas for simple play sessions, using simple language, supported by simple signing and visuals (symbols) to help promote language and communication and shared play. Symbols can be replaced by photos or objects depending on the child's level of understanding. Most importantly these play sessions should be fun. Enjoy.

Developing interaction - People Games

Autism

Supporting your child with autism and social communication needs at nursery and home: Parent workshop power-point by Loraine Hancock, Educational Psychologist and Sarah Jupe, SENCo

Supporting your child at nursery and at home.pptx

CBeebies: Pablo and his friends talk about Autism

See Amazing in All Children- Resources for Parents: Seseme Street and Autism

National Autistic Society (NAS) The UK's leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families. Provides support, guidance and advice on a range of issues.

Ambitious About Autism - 'Right From the Start' Parents Toolkit This practical toolkit contains a wealth of straightforward information in one place to guide parents and carers through their child’s journey in the early years. From the autism assessment process to the first day of school, this toolkit is packed with practical tips and checklists to support parents during the earliest years of their child’s life. It also provides signposts to sources of support or additional information.

What is Autism?

16% of autistic people and their families think the public understand autism in a meaningful way. We want to change this and create a society that works for ...

Autism and sensory sensitivity

The National Autistic Society's amazing film on sensory sensitivity.*Please note: this film is intended to simulate sensory overload and so features loud, re...

Autism - how does Intensive Interaction help people with ASD?

A short description of the aims and working principals of Intensive Interaction, and the benefits of the approach to people with ASD. There is also some ove...

What is Intensive Interaction?

Many of the young children that I see for Speech and Language Therapy sessions need help to develop the fundamentals of communication. You might call these ...

Gina Davies Autism Centre Youtube videos showing stages of 'Attention Autism' Intervention

Potty Training your young child with autism. Toilets - let's flush some!

Potty training can feel like an impossibility but in this workshop we look at the practicalities of getting started and getting it done.

Young people explain stimming | Ambitious about Autism

Watch Ambitious about Autism's Youth Patron explain what stimming is.This video was created thanks to support from MariaMarina Foundation.

Identiplay

Sandwiches

Identiplay activity

Sarah speaking to Michelle Tan from the Autism Advisory Service

What is your role?
What is autism?
What are some key strategies?

What is the social model of disability? - Scope video

In this film, we ask prominent disabled people from the disability community what is the social model of disability, and why is it important to them?The soci...