Head teacher shares how schools and parents can “strengthen approach” to inclusion in early years video transcript

[Neerasha Singh, head teacher at Northfleet Nursery sitting in her office]

Neerasha: As an Inclusion Champion, I've been involved in many work streams. I think the most important work stream is looking at our balanced approach, especially for early years and how we could actually strengthen our approach to inclusion.

[Children enjoying messy play with teachers in the playground. They are moving rubber ducks around on a table covered with jelly]

Neerasha: So that meant focusing on high quality CPD.

[The back if a young girl’s head while she is playing with a toy tiger while sat at the table in class.]

Neerasha: In addition to that, we have been recognised as a centre of excellence for early years.

[Children lining up to put their paintings on a drying rack]

Neerasha: And our role then will involve really bespoke support, especially from an SEN perspective focusing on the social, the emotional and mental health.

[Children sat around a table in their classroom with their teacher while colouring in big letters on their paper]

Neerasha: I believe that if we could get it right at the foundation level, it sets our children up for lifelong learning and success.

[A close up of the children’s hands colouring their letters]

Neerasha: So we work very, very closely with our families, ensuring that they are part of the triangulation process because in order for us to achieve successful outcomes for our children, it's the school, it's the child and the families. That means that we have very happy families at our school because they first and foremost trust us in supporting their children in terms of their differences.

[Children and teachers lined up in the playground holding up their colourful letters which spell out the words “Inclusion and diversity”]

Neerasha: It’s always about the good quality provision and that quality first teaching, which is key. And I think this is why our parents have total faith in us. When we say we can support your child through our Mainstream Core Offer and we do not require an EHCP, parents are very inclined to go with the decision that we have made collectively as a school with the parent as well. So many of the parents trust in our high-quality Universal Offer and Mainstream Core Offer.

[Parents Voice]

Parent 1: Before coming to this nursery, he don't want to sit like not even for two minutes, but now he is sitting and paying attention for like 10 minutes, which is a really big difference. They are sharing and giving us instructions when we ask them, and we are performing all these activities at home and we can see the results now.

Parent 2: I went here as a kid, my dad went here as a child, my nan went here as a child, so we've always lived in the area anyway. Even now my youngest is here and he also needs the extra support, nothing but brilliant support, nothing but thriving. Since September to now, he's a different child.

Parent 3: My grandson is here. It's very good. The staff are friendly, and you can communicate with them and not worry. I think they facilitate the activities to stimulate their development. And where he was going first, they didn't have the support for his needs. So I think here, they do have that for his needs.