At Martham Academy and Nursery, we recognise that every child is unique and that children develop at different rates. Our aim is to create an inclusive, nurturing environment where all children can feel safe, develop positive relationships and make progress from their individual starting points.
We use a three-tiered approach to supporting children: Universal, Targeted and Enhanced provision. This enables us to identify children's needs early and provide the appropriate level of support.
Universal Support – Support for All
Universal provision is the high-quality support that is available to every child in our Nursery. Our staff use a range of approaches throughout the day to create an environment that supports communication, language, social development, emotional wellbeing and independence.
This includes:
High-quality teaching and interactions, with adults modelling language, communication and positive social interactions.
Using simple, clear language and repeating and extending children's vocabulary.
Modelling and teaching positive interactions, turn-taking and sharing.
Teaching and reinforcing our Golden Rules so that children understand expectations and develop positive behaviours.
Using songs, rhymes, stories and repetition to develop communication, language and listening skills.
Providing opportunities for children to learn through play, exploration and practical experiences.
Creating a language-rich environment where children are encouraged to communicate and express themselves.
Providing access to a calm corner, including sensory resources and toys, where children can take time to regulate and feel settled.
Supporting children's emotional development by using whole school approaches to emotional literacy such as the Colour Monsters which help our children to recognise, understand and communicate their feelings.
Using visual prompts, routines and consistent language to help children understand what is happening throughout the day.
Developing independence through everyday routines such as dressing, toileting, tidying and looking after personal belongings.
Our universal provision is designed to support all children and helps us to identify when a child may benefit from additional support.
Targeted Support – Additional Support for Individual Needs
Some children may need additional, more focused support alongside our universal provision. This is known as targeted support and is put in place when we identify a particular area of need.
We use a range of evidence-informed approaches and programmes to support children's individual needs, including:
Attention Autism to develop attention, engagement, anticipation and communication.
Sensory Circuits to support sensory processing, regulation and readiness to learn.
Intensive Interaction to develop early communication, interaction and social connection.
WELLCOMM screening to identify children's communication and language needs and help us plan appropriate support.
Blanks training to support children's understanding and use of language, including developing vocabulary, answering questions and thinking skills.
Targeted support may take place individually, in a small group or through additional strategies embedded within the Nursery day. We monitor children's progress and adapt support according to their individual needs.
Enhanced Support – A Highly Individualised Approach
Where a child has more complex or significant needs, they may require enhanced support in addition to universal and targeted provision.
This support is highly individualised and may include specialist strategies, additional adult support, adapted resources or advice from external professionals. We work closely with parents and carers and, where appropriate, with specialist agencies to ensure that support is coordinated and responsive to the child's needs.
Working with Families and External Agencies
We believe that early identification and strong partnerships with families are key to supporting children effectively.
We work closely with Family Hubs, Local Authority advisers and other specialist services to seek advice, share information and access appropriate support for children and their families.
We also invest in ongoing staff training and professional development, ensuring that our Nursery team continues to develop its knowledge and understanding of a wide range of additional needs. This enables staff to use appropriate strategies and approaches confidently within everyday practice.
Where further assessment or specialist advice is required, we work collaboratively with external professionals and families to identify the most appropriate next steps.
Supporting Families with EHCP Applications
We understand that accessing additional support for your child can feel daunting. We aim to work alongside parents and carers from an early stage and provide guidance and support where further assessment or provision may be needed.
Where appropriate, we can support families with the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) application process, including sharing information about a child's development, strengths, needs and the support already in place.
Our approach is centred on early identification, early support and working in partnership with families. We want every child to have the opportunity to develop their communication, confidence, independence and love of learning in a safe and supportive environment.