SEND means special educational needs and disabilities. A child may need additional support with communication, learning, physical development, sensory processing, health, behaviour or emotional wellbeing.
Every child is unique. Having an additional need does not change their right to feel welcomed, valued and included.
Working with families
Parents and carers know their child best. Please tell us about any diagnosis, professional involvement or concern you have about your child’s development.
You do not need to wait for a formal diagnosis before speaking to us. Early conversations help us understand what your child may need and whether small changes could make nursery more accessible and comfortable.
Observing and understanding needs
Early-years practitioners observe children through their everyday play, communication and relationships. If we notice that a child may need additional help, we will discuss our observations with their parents or carers.
We look at the whole child, including their strengths, interests and preferred ways of communicating—not simply the areas where they need support.
The graduated approach
Where additional support is needed, we may use a graduated process:
Assess: understand the child’s strengths and needs.
Plan: agree appropriate outcomes and support with the family.
Do: put that support into everyday practice.
Review: consider what is helping and what should change.
This process is repeated and adapted as the child develops.
Support at nursery
Support will depend on the individual child and may include:
Adjustments to activities or routines
Visual prompts and predictable transitions
Support with communication and interaction
A quieter or less stimulating space
Adapted equipment or environments
Focused individual or small-group activities
Working with health, education or local-authority professionals
Where appropriate, our Special Educational Needs Coordinator—usually called the SENCO—helps coordinate support and communication.
Preparing for transitions
We work with families and other settings when a child moves rooms, changes nursery or prepares to start school. With appropriate consent, useful information about successful strategies can be shared so that support remains consistent.
If you have any questions about your child’s development or access to nursery, please speak to their Key Person or the nursery SENCO.