1. Young Starts: babies & toddlers (severe learning difficulties)
A CPD Resource focusing on Starting School
A Window On Special

2. Overview The purpose of this video and CPD resource is to:
Support the school to review its induction and settling in process for young children to the nursery and foundation departments;
Reflect on school procedures;
Consider methods to minimise the stress of starting school for young children and their families;
Look at how information is provided to families about what early years education in a special school looks like
This may be particularly useful for schools to use when meeting with others in their local cluster.
You may also find these documents useful (links are on the last slide):
Together Towards Improvement (Pre-school)
Editable Performance Indicators (Pre-school)
Together Towards Improvement (Special)
Editable Performance Indicators (Special)

3. Session One
Policies & Practice

4. Beginning special school…
An exciting yet worrying time for families
Can be significantly more challenging when the child has a severe learning difficulty (SLD)
A new and unknown environment for most families
A cause of anxiety for some parents/carers and relief for others

5. Early Years Induction - our school
What is our induction process?
Is there an induction policy in place?
What do we like about our induction process for…
Parents/carers?
Learners?
Classroom staff?
Other staff?
(5/10 minutes)
It might be useful to write points on the board as a whole group or in smaller groups on pages and then bring the ideas together.
Induction policy may be known by another name such as ‘settling in’.

6. Early Years Induction - our school
Watch the ‘Window on Special’ video on the CCEA website – ‘Young Starts – babies and toddlers’
What ideas did you like in the video?
For parents?
For learners?
For staff?
Video lasts 4 minutes
5 minutes discussion

7. Group Discussion
Before parents step through the door of your school, what impression will they have of it from:
School website/ social media?
School prospectus/ information leaflets?
Discussions with other parents/ community links?
General news articles
Could this be improved upon and how?

8. Information for parents
Does your website, social media and prospectus explain:
How curriculum is met in your school
Teaching strategies used in your school that parents may be unfamiliar with e.g. sensory stories, attention building
Could your school:
Provide photos and videos where appropriate
Allocate time to staff so this can be done effectively
Appoint a public relations officer to highlight positive school events in local/social media and attract sponsorship

9. List three areas that might be a focus for development.
Initial Thoughts
List three areas that might be a focus for development.
5 minutes to agree the areas

10. Which factors need to be considered when developing these areas?
Initial Thoughts
Which factors need to be considered when developing these areas?
Benefits?
Barriers?
People involved?
10 minutes discussion – record the important points
Positive factors
Barriers
Benefits