Blagdon Early Years SCD Resourced Base Consultation

Overview

Meeting the needs of pre-school children with social communication difficulties: Establishing an Early Years Social Communication Difficulties (EY SCD) Resourced Base at Blagdon Nursery

Reading Borough Council have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient childcare places available in Reading this includes for children with SEND. There is an increasing number of young children across Reading who have been identified as having significant social communication difficulties, which makes it challenging for them to access early years education solely within mainstream provision.

To meet the needs of these children in South Reading, it is proposed that an existing informal resource base at Blagdon Nursery School, which currently supports 12 children, is formalised as an EY SCD Resourced Base, supporting up to 20 children, from September 2021.

This will complement the established ‘Snowflakes’ Early Years Autism Resourced Base at New Bridge Nursery in North Reading and the proposed EY SCD Resourced Base at Norcot Nursery, in West Reading.         

Why your views matter

There is an increasing number of pre-school children being identified as having social communication difficulties and waiting for, or undergoing, assessments for autism. These children do not require specialist nursery provision but they do need additional support within a mainstream nursery. Research shows that providing appropriate support, at the first possible opportunity, is crucial for ensuring good outcomes for children with SEND.

Children in the EY SCD Resourced Base will access inside and outside mainstream learning areas, where appropriate, for play based learning and activities. They will also have access to a classroom, a low sensory room, a high sensory room and a sensory garden designed to meet the needs of children with SCD including autism, where educational approaches and adaptations, suitable for children with SCD and autism, will be implemented.

Places in the resource would be allocated by the Brighter Futures for Children’s SCD Resourced Base Panel, following referrals being made to, and discussed with, senior staff from the resource.

Indicatively, the funding needed to formalize the resourced base at Blagdon Nursery School, from September 2021, is £100K.

The aim of the consultation is to give parents, the local community and other key stakeholders in Reading an opportunity to have their say on the establishment of a formal EY SCD resourced base at Blagdon Nursery School.

What happens next

Reading Local Area Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy 2017 – 2022 https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SEND-Strategy.pdf

The Strategy sets out Reading’s shared vision and outcomes for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Flexible local provision that meets current and future local needs is a key part of the vision; in-line with the SEND Code of Practice 2015.

The EY SCD Resourced Base will contribute to this vision by providing appropriate early years education for pupils with SEND who require additional support to access mainstream education, ensuring the provision of inclusive learning opportunities and the social inclusion of children and young people.

The support children receive in the resourced base, will be reviewed three time per year and will help to inform decisions about school placement and whether their needs require support via an Education, Health and Care Plan.