SENCO

At Once Upon A Time we have a nursery SENCO representative. SENCO stands for Special Educational Needs Coordinator, and they have a legal duty to follow the SEND code of practice.

The SENCO works closely with outside agencies, practitioners and parents to provide effective strategies and interventions to support children in their early years and conduct regular meetings to discuss progress and review support plans.
In early years, early intervention is crucial and plays a big part in making a difference to little lives. Spotting signs and working together collaboratively with parents and outside agencies with the child is what leads to effective and positive outcomes.

The SENCO is responsible for co-ordinating and supporting staff in the setting to understand their roles and responsibilities with children with SEN and to understand the settings approach to identifying and meeting the SEND code of practice.

The role also includes:
• Advising and supporting colleagues
• Ensuring parents are closely involved throughout and that their insights inform action taken by the setting,
• Communicating with professionals or agencies beyond the setting
• Ensuring a smooth onward transition and planning for moving on to school for Pre-school children.

Our SENCO representative for our Ecclesall Road site is: Megan Batty
Our SENCO representative for our Dronfield site is: Fiona Gallagher