Borehamwood SEND Local Offer

What is a SENCO?

A Special Educational Needs Coordinator is a member of staff who is responsible for children with additional needs.

Your SENCO will support children and parents/carers to aid the development of children and help them achieve to the best of their ability

The SENCO works under the SEND Code of Practice (2015), which states that Early Years Providers must set targets and track the progress of children with additional needs. After this tracking, a request for an EHC plan may be placed (when necessary).

What is an EHC Plan?

An EHC (Education, Health and Care) Plan is available for children who need more support than is available through special educational needs support (i.e., what is already in place at your current setting).

An EHC Plan can be requested by contacting the local authority for an assessment. This assessment will work with your Early Years Provider, SENCO and YOU.

This plan will be transferred between your child’s next place of education to ensure continuity is kept intact. The plan is reviewed every 12 months.

How do I know if my child needs an EHC Plan?

Your SENCO will talk to you regarding your child’s specific needs. You can always voice your opinions concerning areas which need extra attention or areas which your child finds difficult to navigate.

Your SENCO will then carry out an initial baseline assessment. This tool assesses where your child is holding in relation to peers their age, where the gaps are, and how the gaps can be bridged.

Your SENCO will then create targets which can be carried out both in the setting and at home. These will be reviewed, and the SENCO will talk to you regarding contact with the Local authority. 

How will Little Bicks know if a child needs extra support?

A key person is allocated to each child. They complete regular observations which they use to plan around the child’s specific needs, and interests from home and nursery. A learning journal is assigned to every child to ensure the child’s strengths, likes and dislikes are recorded as well as observations.

 The key person uses an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) tracker to identify if any support is required. Parents are shown the learning journals and a joint approach is taken. Parents can inform staff of additional needs that the nursery may need to cater for before settling in sessions, which we hold so the key person and staff can familiarise themselves with the child’s individual needs and abilities.

How do staff support the child?

Little Bicks have a nursery SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator) who has been trained through the local authority as well as the nursery. The SENCO is there to support the key person, the child and the child’s family. Little Bicks follow a graduated approach in order to identify, assess and respond to children’s special educational needs. Our policy ensures that the environment is suitable for all, and the nursery will make reasonable adjustments for children. 

The SENCO will work with the key person to ensure the child has access to different resources and experiences suited for them by creating personal plans.

With parental consent, the SENCO will liaise with professionals such as the area SENCOs, specialist advisory teachers, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists.

The plans will be reviewed and updated regularly with the SENCO, key person and family.

How will Little Bicks support the child when transitioning to a new setting?

With your permission, the SENCO or key person will liaise with the new setting and, if possible, meet with them to share relevant information. The SENCO or key person can also, where possible, visit the new setting to advise on adaptations to environment or routine to aid the child’s transition. Little Bicks use a transitioning booklet for children with SEND.

How are parents/ carers involved?

The key person and SENCO will work with the parents to ensure that every child is supported. Parental input is highly valued at Little Bicks. Parents are encouraged to complete targets at home and are invited to attend regular meetings to review progress. The child’s learning journal can be viewed on Tapestry at any time and Little Bicks invites parents to tell staff about concerns or comments.

For additional information please contact senco@littlebicks.co.uk or head@littlebicks.co.uk

Alternatively you can visit the Hertfordshire website with the borough’s local offer: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/about-the-local-offer.aspx