Article - What is the Nursery’s diversity policy?

This article will provide you with information on inclusion at the Nursery.

The Nursery recognises that all children and their families are unique, and the diversity of individuals and communities is valued and respected. The Nursery includes all children, by making sure the learning environment meets the individual needs of each child, taking account of the range of abilities and learning styles.

We respect your right to be treated fairly, with courtesy and respect, irrespective of your ethnic origin, gender, age, religion, ability or sexual orientation.

The Nursery managers are responsible for maintaining the Nursery waiting list in accordance with the policy set out on the Nursery application form. This ensures that parents’ applications are prioritised according to the University course they are studying, regardless of the parent’s or child’s ethnic origin, gender, age, religion, ability or sexual orientation.

Nursery staff know that babies and children develop in individual ways, and at varying rates. By careful observation and planning and working closely with you and other support services, we aim to meet the needs of your child.

Within the framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage, as well as tracking individual children’s progress, staff track the progress of different groups of children. This enables staff to identify any areas where children are not meeting developmental expectations, and to put strategies in place to support the child’s learning and development. These groups include:

• children with English as an additional language,
• more active learners
• children with less well-developed communication skills,
• children with additional needs
• children who may have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties
• ‘Looked after’ children.

The Managers ensure that staff include different cultural and religious festivals in the planning of activities. We respect your right to choose not to allow your child to participate in activities linked with other cultures and religions. Alternative activities will be available

for your child, if you wish.

The Nursery displays positive images of children, men and women from different cultural and religious backgrounds and with different abilities, different kinds of families, and varied gender roles e.g. men caring for children, women working in traditional male jobs.

‘Open-ended’ dressing up materials (materials that can be used imaginatively in lots of different ways), puzzles, dolls, games and books are provided within a multicultural framework, thus promoting inclusive and accepting behaviour and attitudes in Nursery children.

Children with special educational needs or disabilities

Our Nursery has regard for the Equality Act 2010 and the DfE Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs and also guidelines from the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.

• If your child has any additional or special needs, please contact the Nursery managers so that we can ensure your child’s induction and integration to the Nursery is appropriate for their needs.
• We draw upon your knowledge and experience of your child in planning for their health, care and education.
• The Nursery’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, (SENCO) is Gloria Whitney.
• We aim to provide learning opportunities to support the developmental needs of each child within our setting and improve outcomes for all children. We ensure that all children are included and encouraged to participate in all activities, wherever possible and appropriate.
• Your child’s Key Person will monitor your child’s progress and development through observations and assessment records, using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as a framework. Progress and development are shared and discussed with you regularly, verbally and through termly reports.
• With your agreement, we will create an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for your child, to ensure we are supporting and planning for their development. IEPs are monitored by the child’s Key Person and the Nursery SENCO and are shared with you.
• If your child needs additional support, we will liaise with other health or education professionals to meet your child’s specific needs.
• In some circumstances, it may be helpful for you to complete a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) with Gloria Whitney. With your permission, this will be shared with Portsmouth Joint Action Team (JAT). JAT will make sure that any health or education professionals, who will be working with your child, are aware of your child’s needs.
• Occasionally, it may be helpful to arrange a ‘Team Around the Child’ (TAC) meeting. This would provide an opportunity for you, a Nursery Manager, your child’s Key Person, school teacher, speech therapist etc. to meet each other and plan for your child’s next steps.
• Nursery staff attend relevant training for supporting children with special educational needs or disabilities.