Early Years Local Offer response

Learning and development

Systems and strategies we have in place to identify children that may require additional support

We offer home visits where we discuss children with the parents. We give the parents a Baseline Assessment of their child within their first few weeks of attending Owlets. We meet with parents to write a detailed joint Two Year Progress Check. We observe children continually. Staff discuss progress and key persons complete a learning journal for each child. We talk to the parents informally after each session and every term we hold an optional meeting with the parents.

How we identify and support children's learning and development needs

See above. Individual Learning Plans and intervention groups for those children who need them. 

Links we have to other agencies

Where outside professionals' help is deemed necessary, we discuss this with the parents and we ask the relevant person (ie area SENCO or speech therapist) to visit the child, parents and staff at Owlets.

How we support children transferring to school

We have excellent and smooth transition procedures, including school staff visiting Owlets and the children visiting the school.

Also, when necessary a pre-school member of staff has supported transition children settling into school by helping out in the school classroom in the first few weeks.

Welfare

Specialist skills or training our staff have

We all have Makaton training, and we use signing daily. All core members of staff have Paediatric First Aid training, Safeguarding and SEN training. We've also undergone Behaviour Management training. We discuss what training each member of staff will take depending on the needs of the children. We will readily undergo further training as needed.

Support we offer regarding children's health and well-being

We have joined Healthy Under Fives. We encourage daily outdoor play and physical exercise. We provide free milk and water is always readily available. We ask the parents to provide fruit or a vegetable each day for snack time and a healthy lunch. We talk to the children about health and safety issues on a regular basis, for example we encourage them to drink plenty of water, wear a hat in the sun and we show them how to e.g. carry scissors safely. We carry out daily risk assessments on our premises and resources. We ensure the children always wash their hands after using the toilet, gardening and before cooking and eating. We have a Healthy Under Fives notice board to share health and safety information with parents and we also send advice and information home as necessary. Each child has a key person.

Ways we inform parents about how their child is being supported

We talk to our parents informally every day. We also provide parents with an opportunity to discuss their child's learning and development with their key person on a termly basis, or more often where necessary. We complete a Baseline Assessment within the child's first few weeks at Owlets. We also complete a Two Year Old Progress Check with the parents.

Our complaints policy

We welcome suggestions on how to improve our setting and we anticipate that most concerns will be resolved quickly and informally. If this does not achieve the desired result, we have a set of procedures for dealing with concerns. Our Complaints Policy is displayed on our Parents' Notice Board.

Access

Alterations we have made to make our building accessible

There is a disabled toilet in the school building.

Facilities we have for personal care

We use liquid soap from an automatic dispenser and paper hand towels. We have low basins with stools, so that our smallest children can reach them. We have small toilets, two potties and a changing table. We also have spare nappies, wipes etc. We provide free milk and cups with handles and spouts for those children who need them. We have a large supply of spare clothes including warm hats, gloves and sun hats. We also provide waterproof clothing and spare Wellington boots.

Specialist resources we have

Our fantastic, caring staff are our best resource.

We use visual support resources such as a visual timetable, traffic lights and spot timers.

We recently sought and obtained funding to buy a fabulous Communication and Language pack which the children love using and which is helping language development throughout our setting.  

We are willing to purchase additional resources as necessary to meet individual needs e.g. Braille books and signs.

How we include all children in activities, such as trips

We always include all children in all activities and trips.