Here at Pippins, we believe that every child is a unique and amazing individual, and we are committed to helping them fully access all of the different opportunities that attending preschool can offer. All of our staff members have SEND training and we have experience working with children who have a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Through good planning, we can ensure all of our children are able to benefit from the whole programme of learning and activities that we provide.
‘When we first started looking for a preschool or nursery setting for our child I honestly didn’t think we’d find somewhere that would be so understanding and accommodating to his extra needs. But then we walked into Pippins and every single person was so warm and welcoming. You didn’t make us feel different and you included our son as much as he would let you. We can never thank you enough; going at his pace has massively contributed to the progress he’s made.’
Our team is led by Deputy Preschool Manager Sandra and supported by Senior Preschool Practitioner Katie, our highly trained and compassionate SEN Co-ordinators, who will work with you to identify your child’s individual needs and support their development. Both Sandra and Katie, as well as the rest of the Pippins team, are extremely passionate about supporting SEND children and their families to ensure they get the most out of their time at Pippins. We have in place a clear approach for identifying, responding to and meeting your child’s SEND needs. We will involve you in this from the outset, and ensure that your insights inform all of our actions.
‘Pippins has changed my son in so many ways. He’s more confident, more physically able and much more social and vocal now. We don’t know how to thank you for all the hard work you’ve put in with him, for how kind you’ve all been and how encouraging you’ve been to him. We are all so grateful to all of you at Pippins and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’
Once a plan is agreed, our staff work closely together and make sure communication is clear, so that we can help your child develop and progress in the best way possible. We will maintain high ambitions for your child and regularly set new targets and stretching goals. We have staff members who have undertaken extra training in the appropriate handling of behaviour issues, and we understand the value of providing a consistent approach for your child. We can provide one-to-one support for your child if this is deemed appropriate. We also have staff with Makaton and British Sign Language training.
Pippins routinely liaises with other professionals and agencies beyond our setting. We will work closely with any professionals who are currently supporting your family. We can also help guide you to new resources and help you access additional support if necessary.
If you have concerns about how your child may cope with attending preschool, please come speak to us at any time.
‘Thank you so much for all your support this year, we can never repay you for all that you have done for our child and the progress that he has made whilst at Pippins. You gave our child a chance: he has never been so happy and is now ready to take the next big step, and we will forever be grateful to you.’
