About us
SENCO and Special Needs Care
At Little Acorns Preschool we believe that all children should thrive, and be supported in the best possible way to ensure they enjoy a positive learning experience with us. We recognise that sometimes, children require extra support to help them meet their maximum potential, and alongside parents, we create a graduated approach for these children to achieve this. Our principles and practices are based around the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2015 and is reflected through our policies and practice.
Our designated SENCO is Zoe Townsend-Priest. Zoe has supported children with various special needs and has attended training courses to support her role. She is responsible for ensuring all practitioners in the setting understand their responsibilities towards the children with SEN and the setting’s approach in identifying and meeting SEN. Zoe advises and supports colleagues, ensuring parents are closely involved throughout the process and that their insights are used to shape the support we provide to individuals. She also liaises closely with professionals and agencies beyond the setting.
It is the responsibility of the SENCO to work closely with the key person and parents to provide Individual Education Plans (IEP) for the child concerned. This is created alongside strong communication links with the Early Intervention team. The main focus of this team is to work with us to promote the learning and development of children with special educational needs. Staff training is also of high importance to ensure that practitioners are equipped with the tools that they need to meet each child’s individual needs. Zoe attends regular training, which is tailored to the needs of the SEN children at Little Acorns, to glean new developments and update her knowledge. She always shares relevant information with the practitioners.
To read our full SENDCO policy, click here.
Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage is made up of four specific themes: These themes underpin all the EYFS guidance:
- Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
- Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
- Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
- Importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. (See “the characteristics of effective teaching and learning” at paragraph 1.15). The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (publishing.service.gov.uk)
OFSTED
The last Ofsted inspection at Little Acorns Preschool took place in October 2019.
Click below to view our report.
Little Acorns Playgroup – Open – Find an Inspection Report – Ofsted
Little Acorns Preschool Sessions and Fees
Session Times
We are open term-time only
Morning session – 08.45-11.45
Lunch session – 11.45-12.15
Afternoon session – 12.15-15.15
Payment & Non Payment of Fees
Little Acorns is a registered charity run by a committee of volunteers and is a ‘not-for-profit’ entity. Little Acorns depends upon receiving payment from government funding and parent / carer fees for the regular attendance of a minimum number of children to continue to operate. It is our intention to set fees at a fair and reasonable rate in order to make it accessible to all families whilst also ensuring that the pre-school itself is financially viable.
We aim to make our charging processes clear to all parents / carers taking up a place at Little Acorns.
Session Fees from March 2023
Session (am or pm) £13.50
Lunch £3.50 (£1.50 if staying all day)
Full day £28.50