Supporting Every Child at Footsteps
Every child is different and we think that’s something we celebrate at Footsteps.
Children develop at their own pace, have their own personalities and enjoy different ways of learning and playing. Sometimes, a child may need a little extra support with things like communication, physical development, emotions, social skills or everyday routines.
Our role is to get to know every child, understand what makes them happy and confident, and help them flourish in a way that works for them.
SENCO support across Footsteps
Each of our nursery and pre-school settings has a SENCO lead (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) who works alongside our team to support children who have, or may have, additional needs.
Our SENCO leads are also supported by two senior members of the Footsteps team who are Level 3 SENCO qualified. This means our settings can share knowledge, experience and ideas, giving our teams an additional layer of support when they need it.
Little changes can make a big difference
Supporting a child doesn’t always mean making big changes. It could be introducing visual prompts, providing a quieter space, adapting an activity, offering additional sensory experiences or simply giving a child a little more time and encouragement.
Because so much of our learning at Footsteps is child-led and through play, we can adapt experiences to suit different children and the ways they learn best. Most importantly, we focus on what children can do rather than what they can’t, building on their strengths and supporting their progress along the way.
Working together with families
Parents and carers know their children better than anyone, so working together is a really important part of our approach. If we notice that a child might benefit from some additional support, we’ll talk to families about what we’ve observed and listen to what they’re seeing at home too.
Where appropriate, our SENCO team can also work alongside families and other professionals to make sure everyone is working together to support each child.
Helping every child flourish
For us, SEND support isn’t about labels. It’s about making sure children feel safe, happy, included and understood.
Whether an achievement is joining in with a group activity, making a new friend, communicating a need, trying something new or becoming a little more independent, those steps matter.
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow in confidence, enjoy learning and flourish in their own way. Our team are here to encourage and celebrate every milestone!
Find out more about our SEND provision or chat to our team.
