Our Nursery SEND Provision class offers 15 hour and 30-hour sessions to 2,3- and 4-year-olds who have been identified as needing a low arousal learning environment which focuses on early communication and interaction skills. The morning session starts at 8.30am and finishes at 11.30am, the afternoon session starts at 12.10pm and finishes at 3.10pm and our full day session starts at 9.00am until 3.00pm. The number for each session is limited to eleven children, who are supported by four adults.

There are two areas which provide a learning space for the children. The indoor space is designed to offer a sensory environment, which provides continuous provision opportunities, taking into consideration each child’s sensory needs. This includes an area to explore rhythm, rhyme and sensory stories, creative area to explore a range of mark making, sensory area for edible sensory play and water play. There is also a fine motor area to support developing children’s physical skills. Resources such as cause and effect toys are used to develop joint and shared attention skills. All resources are carefully chosen and placed, to support and develop children’s communication skills, through requesting.

The outdoor learning space in Maple class offers a free flow space for the children to access throughout the school day. In the garden there are opportunities for recognising ourselves using mirrors, using climbing equipment, such as slide or trees, as well as exploring the water or sand, riding bikes or swinging in the hammocks to support self-regulation.

Routine in Maple class is important for our children, so visual and auditory cues are essential when helping children to know when it is time for snack, lunch time etc or when transitioning from one space to another. Therefore, when the children arrive at school for their session we greet them with our hello song accompanied by bubbles. At the end of the session, we sing our goodbye song to signal to the children that they are going home. This is used alongside an object of reference such as their coat. Throughout the school day when children are choosing, all staff are using the same Makaton signs to ensure consistency and to encourage and develop early communication throughout the whole of the learning environment.

The spaces support emotional regulation, social communication and transactional support. The resources in environments meet the needs and interests of the children and in doing so meet the needs of each unique child. They are adapted and changed to enable children to achieve their full potential. In these calm spaces, adults use Makaton signs, objects of reference and pictures to develop and support children’s early social communication needs. Whilst encouraging children to also communicate their needs with an adult in this way, both indoors and outdoors.

Maple class also have access to our light and sound sensory room, which children can access, to support them with regulation. Children can go here to further meet their sensory needs or if they need a change in environment.

The team in Maple class are led by Miss Atherton, who is a qualified HLTA. Miss Atherton, and the team in Maple, take time to get to know the children and adapt approaches to match children’s individual interests. We are very flexible and experienced in accommodating a wide range of complex needs. Your child will be assigned a key person who will get to know them extremely well. During the key person time, the member of staff working with a child will identify the next steps in learning. The team work closely with the school SENCO and our specialist SEND teacher Dr Helen Bibby, who has provided training on Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism and Blank Level questions. The staff will be using their voice, body and face to develop early communication skills. Some activities will be child led and others adult led depending on the support children will need in moving their learning forward. Also, interventions such as speech and language therapy take place and our private SALT will be working alongside the team to offer advice and next steps.