Bowerdean & Mapledean Nursery Schools are committed to inclusion; we strive to develop policies and practices that include all children and their families. Our admission policy reflects our views and no child with Special Educational Needs will be discriminated against. We aim to engender a sense of community and belonging, and to offer new opportunities to children and their families.

We recognise that children learn at different rates and that there are many factors affecting achievement, including ability, emotional well-being and age. We believe that many children at some time may experience difficulties which affect their learning, and we recognise that these may be long or short term. In accordance with the SEND Code of Practice (2014) aim to identify these needs as they arise and provide teaching and learning contexts which enable every child to achieve to his or her full potential.

Learning Together

We believe that all children have the right to be included in everything that takes place at Nursery. We believe that inclusion happens when everyone feels appreciated and welcome to participate.

We are extremely proud of the support we provide to ensure that every child has the right to achieve and feel successful. We provide educational experiences which develop each pupil’s achievements and recognise their individuality. We work hard to identify barriers to learning and strive to minimise these to ensure every child can access a broad, balanced, exciting and challenging curriculum which is appropriate to their individual abilities, talents and personal qualities.

We support all our children to learn Makaton to help strengthen communication and develop mutual understanding.

These are the 10 signs we use daily at Nursery and encourage parents to use them too.

White Room Provision

We provide positive, rich experiences in our dedicated, low stimulus environment, which is designed to meet the individual, specific needs of those children who need extra support to access learning.

Our provision is led by a SEN specialist teacher and a team of highly experienced Nursery Nurses. This enables us to provide our children with high levels of adult support (4 or 5 adults to a maximum of 8 children). All children have access to a bespoke curriculum, delivered using a continuous provision approach to support and challenge their development. Staff are trained in the Curiosity Approach, Attention Autism and ELSA (emotional literacy support).

As we believe peer to peer interactions are invaluable learning opportunities, we operate a wholly inclusive approach to daily Nursery life. Our dedicated group times provide adult-led input, designed to meet the developmental needs of each class, while our main free-flow times provide a wealth of opportunities for all our children to play, negotiate, develop and learn together.

Wider Support Networks

We work alongside our families to do the best we can to meet our children’s individual, learning and attachment needs. We also work in partnership with our families to co-produce SEN Plans, to prepare Educational Health Care Needs Assessment (ECHNA) requests and to support progress in meeting EHCP targets.

Our bi-termly parent sessions provide opportunities for families to join us to explore strategies to support progress. These are attended by a Family Support Worker, who can signpost parents to other support groups or resources. 

Close links with the Family Network Hubs mean we are able to offer parent sessions on site to help with any specific need or worry. These are also open to the wider local community.

Please feel free to contact any of the staff to discuss your child’s specific needs and requirements. For specific advice and expertise please contact the following two staff:

• SENCO – Mrs Zoe Staines, Bowerdean Nursery
• SEN Teacher - Miss Wendy Yolland, Bowerdean Nursery 
• Deputy SENCO – Mrs Shelby Thomas, Mapledean Nursery

For more details regarding our work with children with Special Educational Needs or for any other family support, please see the Buckinghamshire family information website.

Bucks Family Information Service (BFIS)

"Children who are disabled, either mentally or physically, have a right to special care and education so they can lead full and independent lives."

- Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.