Additional support

In our setting in addition to the SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) based in the setting,  we have a SEND team at Durham County Council who provide support, advice and guidance to the for those children who present with additional needs.

The SEND team is passionate about ensuring all children have the best possible start in life. Working with parents and children and alongside our staff and the setting SENDCo,  they uphold high aspirations for those with additional needs and embed practices that improve outcomes. Additionally, the team offer in-house training to develop knowledge and practice of all practitioners relating to additional support.

In most cases, it is expected that a child with Special Educational Needs and Disability will be supported through our Graduated Approach with strategies and interventions from appropriate external specialist professionals. However, to ensure the best outcomes are being delivered for all children and the highest level of support is in place for children transitioning to school, settings can request for the Local Authority to carry out an assessment of the child’s needs and for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to be drawn up. The setting will lead this process, with involvement from parents and in conjunction with an Educational Psychologist. At this stage we 

can discuss with parents the various school options that are available in their local area and which may best suit their child’s needs.

Here at lour setting we:

• Embrace and celebrate every child’s uniqueness
• Treat all children and their families equally and with respect
• Include and support every child, regardless of ethnic background, culture, language, gender, socio-economic background, or additional need/disability
• Ensure that every child is able to participate in every activity
• Provide resources that reflect the background of each child
• Understand that every child’s presenting needs, or diagnosis will be unique to them

Creating an inclusive environment 

Effective inclusive practice provides all children with access to opportunities and support during the earliest and most influential years of their learning and growing. It also helps enable children to be confident in who they are and what they aspire to in the future.  We provide a safe environment where parents, staff and children can learn about each other’s differences and similarities and learn to empathise and value each other.