At Kaleidoscope Childcare, we follow Kent’s Starting Strong guidance to ensure every child receives high-quality, inclusive education. As part of the Kent Local Offer, we are committed to identifying children’s needs early and providing the right support to help every child thrive.
Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), Claire, works closely with families and our staff team to create Individualised Support Plans for children who need additional help.
We have direct access to an Early Years Equality Adviser, who can support our staff without the need for a formal referral.
For children who require more complex, multi-agency support, we work with the Professional Resource Group (PRG). This group of professionals meets each term to coordinate a bespoke support package tailored to individual children’s needs.
When appropriate, SEN Support and Inclusion Practitioners (SIPS) work directly within our setting to set individual goals and support children with specific needs to make progress.
Children who need more intensive specialist nursery support can receive this directly within our mainstream setting through this service (formerly known as Specialist Nursery Intervention).
Where needed, we may apply for the SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) to provide additional staffing or specialised equipment, ensuring children with complex needs are fully included.
We also use a range of inclusive, universal strategies to support communication for all children, including visual timelines, “Now and Next” boards, choice boards, and Makaton signing.
Our staff are regularly trained in autism awareness and inclusive communication strategies, including visual supports, Makaton signing, selective mutism, Intensive Interaction, and Gestalt language processing.
Please see the hyperlinks below for further advice:
Information for parents on Kent’s local offer and services available can be found at:
What is the local offer?
A local offer gives SEND children and young people and their families information about what support services are available in their area.
General information and advice:
Free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for children, young people up to age 25, parents and carers.
The Pod NHS Kent has key information about children’s therapies as well as films, resources and links that can help your child achieve their therapy goals.
Speech and language information, advice and resources:
Talking Walk-ins are play-based drop-in sessions for anyone concerned about their pre-school child’s speech, language or communication skills.
ICAN is the children’s communication charity. We are experts in helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world. Our vision is a world where all children have the communication skills they need to fulfil their potential. Our mission is that no child should be left out or left behind because of a difficulty speaking or understanding.
STAMMA Should you be worried if your child starts stammering? Find out what you can do support them and yourself.
Includes Us 2 is a local parent-driven charity providing information and support to disabled children, young people and their families in the areas of Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe and Dover. Please click on the image above to take you to their site.
Home-Start works with families in communities right across the UK. Starting in the home, our approach is tailored to what the family need. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support.