🌈 SEND & Inclusion at Pennywell Early Years Centre
At Pennywell Early Years Centre, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our core values ‘We Belong‘ and ‘We Are Capable‘, we are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their individual needs, feels safe, valued, and supported to reach their full potential.
👩🏫 Meet Our Inclusion Team
Our SEND provision is overseen by our dedicated SENDCo, Ruth Williamson, who leads our strategic approach to supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Working alongside Ruth is our Inclusion Manager, Bonni Dixon, a SEND specialist who works closely with families, staff, and outside agencies to ensure that children’s needs are identified early and supported effectively. She plays a hands-on role in the day-to-day support of children with additional needs, works directly with families and staff, to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
If you have concerns about your child’s development or would just like to chat, we encourage you to get in touch with Bonni, she is always happy to help and guide you through the support available.
Our SEND governor is Leslie Stephenson.
📘 How We Support SEND
We follow national and local guidance, including:
- The SEND Code of Practice (2015) – the statutory framework for identifying and supporting children with SEND.
- The Sunderland SEND Ranges – a local framework that helps identify children’s needs and the right level of support.
- The Local Offer – the support and services available for children with SEND in Sunderland.
🔗 View Sunderland’s Local Offer - Our Nursery Offer – the support we offer children in nursery.
🗣️ At our setting, we use a Total Communication approach to support every child from birth in developing their understanding and ability to communicate. This means we use a wide range of methods, including speech, ,Makaton signs, gestures, visual aids, symbols, and technology, to ensure that all children can express themselves and be understood. By creating a rich and supportive communication environment, we empower children to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and fully engage with the world around them. Our inclusive strategy ensures that each child’s unique communication needs are met with care, creativity, and respect.
💬 Inclusion Funding & Interventions
We make full use of Inclusion Funding to provide additional resources and staffing to meet the specific needs of children. This funding allows us to:
- Offer small group or 1:1 interventions such as Early Talk Boost to support communication and language.
- Access specialist equipment and tailored learning tools.
- Deliver staff training in areas such as:
- Makaton (signing for communication)
- Moving and handling safely
- Medical training, including supporting children with feeding tubes or other medical needs.
♿ Our Accessibility Plan
At Pennywell Early Years Centre, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all children, families, and staff. Our Accessibility Plan outlines the steps we take to remove barriers to learning and ensure that every child, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive needs, can access and benefit from everything we offer.
Our plan includes:
- Physical accessibility: Our building is fully accessible with ramp access, wide doorways, and adapted toilet facilities to support children with mobility or physical needs.
- Curriculum access: We adapt our teaching, resources, and environment to support the individual learning styles and abilities of all children.
- Information access: We ensure communication is clear and available in alternative formats where needed. We use visuals, Makaton, and simplified language to support understanding.
Our Accessibility Plan is reviewed regularly to make sure it reflects the current needs of the children and families in our community. We work closely with professionals and families to ensure adjustments are made in a timely and meaningful way.
If you would like to know more about our Accessibility Plan or discuss specific requirements, please feel welcome to contact our SENDCo, Ruth Williamson, or Inclusion Manager, Bonni Dixon.
🤝 A Whole-Team Approach
Our entire staff team is committed to inclusion and regularly take part in ongoing training to strengthen their understanding of different needs and how best to support children in our care. We aim to provide early identification and intervention so that children can make progress in a setting where they feel confident, safe, and respected.
If you’d like to know more about how we support children with additional needs, or if you have any concerns about your child’s development, please don’t hesitate to speak to Bonni Dixon, our Inclusion Manager.
Together, we’ll make sure your child gets the best possible start.
