Crossbasket Nursery is a purpose-built nursery located within the Crossbasket Estate in High Blantyre.
The setting is a funded provider and has been delivering high quality ELC provision in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council since it was established in 2014.
Crossbasket Nursery demonstrates adaptive approaches that enhance the learning environment and positive experiences for all children. Child led play, planning in the moment and outdoor learning are encouraged to develop individual children’s interests.
The setting is registered for up 107 children aged between 6 weeks to those not yet attending school.
This case study aims to highlight practical approaches taken by Crossbasket Nursery that support children with additional support needs (ASN) access provision of funded early learning and childcare.
Nationally, the number of children registered for funded ELC with an additional support need recorded increased by 2% in 2022 (Schools in Scotland 2022: Summary Statistics, Scottish Government). However, the number of children without any ASN diagnosis and who are displaying more distressed characteristics has also increased. Speech and language delays have been cited as one of the primary additional support need characteristics in settings across 37% of local authorities, along with general distressed behaviours. (Local Authority Engagement Report June – July 2023, Improvement Service)
In 2023, Crossbasket Nursery completed an extensive refurbishment of its five playrooms. The vision was to develop an environment that encouraged child led play, planning in the moment, and to create a new 2-3 year old playroom plus a smaller 3-5 year old room.
The setting has continuously demonstrated the ability to adapt its approach to delivering high quality learning opportunities that meet individual children's needs. The playrooms were designed with a nurturing, homely feeling at the heart of them, with free flow access and open-ended imaginative play resources.
The new smaller pre-school playroom is staffed by two practitioners, who are supported by a floating member of staff who moves between both pre-school playrooms. This structure allows practitioners to quickly identify when a child’s needs are greatest and allows for more varied opportunities for children who may benefit from a quieter learning environment.
‘Welcomes’ play an important role at Crossbasket – not just on a child’s first day, but for every day that they attend nursery. All children are welcomed into the nursery by name and with a warm smile; this is replicated in their playrooms. This has been crucial in establishing and maintaining strong relationships with the children and their families.
Support services
Staff have nurtured these relationships over several years, with most children registered at Crossbasket attending in advance of statutory eligibility. As a result, when practitioners become aware of challenges that some children face in their learning and development, they are empowered to have open dialogue with parents and initiate the most appropriate support. As a funded provider, Crossbasket Nursery has access to a range of support services via South Lanarkshire Council. The setting has noted that recent changes to the way in which these services are requested have been beneficial and are now more accessible. This means that the setting has access to:
- Wide ranging training opportunities for managers and staff
- Ongoing bespoke support for staff to build their capacity
- Appropriate updates at funded provider meetings
- Yearly inclusion conference
- A link educational psychologist
- A link early years specialist support teacher
- A locality manager and a quality link officer
- Inclusion and equality support
As a result, the setting is now forming close links with a range of specialists and professionals. Specialists visit the setting and work with staff on assessments as well as developing support plans and strategies for children who require additional support. Staff have found this model (outreach rather than extraction) valuable, as it enables them to offer continuity to the children, and further develops their own skills and knowledge.
Recently, speech and language delays have been identified by the setting in an increasing number of two-year-olds. For some of these children, they are supported via stage 1 and 2 of the staged intervention process. However, for others, support is required from speech and language therapists. Regardless of the level of support, Crossbasket adopts a teamwork approach and ensures that parents are part of this. By flipping the discussion around from negatives to positives, the appropriate support approaches are easily reached and monitored. The nursery manager also hosts multi-agency meetings every three months. These are an opportunity to review the process of individual children, ensuring all needs are being met.
Outdoor learning makes up a substantial part of the nursery experience at Crossbasket; the setting benefits from five individual outdoor learning areas and a private forest area at the rear of the nursery. The outdoor environment is an invaluable resource for children with ASN, who often become calmer, more focused, and more engaged in this environment. Parents are invited to attend regular forest mornings, where children can explore the natural space available and where imaginative play is encouraged. In 2021, Crossbasket was awarded £1200 from the ELC inclusion fund, this was used to expand the resources available to support children not only when they are at nursery, but also when they are at home. This means that the setting has several home link resources available for families to support children with ASN.
We have a child with additional support needs and Crossbasket Nursery has been so understanding and welcoming. They have worked so well with us to support our son.
Staff training and ensuring staff are given opportunities to further their own development has always been a priority for both the nursery manager and the nursery director; both of whom recognise the importance of having a highly skilled workforce and how much of a positive impact this has on the experiences of children. Leadership is also demonstrated across the staff team; senior practitioners develop and deliver training activities to colleagues.
Planning in the moment
In April 2023, Crossbasket Nursery welcomed Anna Ephgrave to the setting, who delivered Planning in the Moment training, which aligns with the Care Inspectorates guide for providers on personal planning. The full day session left staff feeling inspired and full of knowledge that they were eager to take for forward and embed in their own practice. Following the training, the setting undertook a period of consultation and further research to determine the best way to embed a new planning method. Various approaches were considered, and in July 2023 a new approach to planning was implemented. Children now learn through their own interests and through real life experiences that aid them in becoming successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors, and responsible citizens. By embedding ‘planning in the moment’ practice, there are no ‘one size fits all’ learning plans created in advance. Staff have more focused floor time with children due to a reduction in paperwork and are completely responsive to their needs.
Being part of the focus group means that all staff when engaging with a child from the group will observe any learning opportunities that take place. If a learning opportunity occurs, the member of staff records this in an observation on the child's learning journey record sheet. Using observations to improve learning is supported by Education Scotland, who have also created resources to support this practice. Relationships and communications between parents and staff are further enhanced as they come together for regular progress discussions.
All staff at Crossbasket encourage parents, carers, and families to become involved in nursery life. Forest days, cooking competitions, home link challenges and parent evenings are just some of the activities used to engage parents and families in all aspects of their child’s learning and development. The nursery chef hosts Christmas lunch for children and families and organised a menu tasting session for parents and carers. Electronic two-way home link diaries are standard practice. These are used to record daily activities, plus detailed observations.
- A child’s welcome into nursery is one of the most important parts of their day, and their whole ELC journey.
- Floating staff members between rooms allow practitioners to quickly identify and respond to children’s needs.
- Support from the Council give valuable links to a range of specialists and professionals.
- The outdoor environment is an invaluable resource for children with ASN.
- By embedding ‘planning in the moment’ practice, there are no ‘one size fits all’ learning plans.