Policies

We believe that all young children should have an equal opportunity to access high quality, Early Years Education.

To ensure all stakeholders understand our commitment to equalities and fairness we believe there needs to be clarity with regard to the priorities, criteria and procedures for allocating places at Hartcliffe Nursery School.

Aims

• To have a fair and consistent process for allocating places.
• To ensure a socio-economic balance in our intake, from which all children benefit and thrive whilst upholding equal opportunities.
• To ensure all applicants are equally valued and that families are able to express their and their children’s needs.
• To reflect Bristol’s Policy on Early Years Education and allocation of places and current research on the best provision for Nursery aged children.

Admissions Policy

Statement of intent

We understand that we cannot achieve equality by treating everyone the same.

We have a responsibility to ensure positive attitudes to diversity and difference so that all children are included and not disadvantaged but also so that they learn to value diversity and are able to make a positive contribution to society. We know that prejudiced attitudes and discrimination are learnt early on in life and that we have a key role in challenging discriminatory behaviour.

• To eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
• To promote equality of access and opportunity within our school and within our wider community

Our Approach

The following key concepts are fundamental to our approach: 

• Social cohesion within our centre and the local community
• Excellence – our aim is to inspire and recognise high achievement for all members of our community
• Personal and cultural identity – we will provide opportunities to explore and value individual identities
• Fairness and social justice – developing our understanding of inequality that exists and explore ways of promoting a fairer society.

We seek to provide a welcoming and respectful environment that allows us to question and challenge discrimination and inequality, resolve conflicts peacefully and work and learn free from harassment and violence.

Download Equalities Policy

Translatable web version (BETA)

We believe that children and adults should be free to play, explore and learn without fear of harm or injury, in a supportive and emotionally literate environment. We recognise that at this stage in their development children are learning about their emotions and often require adult support to regulate them and manage their behaviour.

We believe that the key to good behaviour in children is working with their parents to understand and support their emotional needs.

We recognise that appropriate behaviour expectations differ depending on an individual child’s experience and stage of development. We believe that all of this should take place within an inclusive framework in which equal opportunities are promoted and discrimination challenged.

Learning Behaviour Policy

We believe that all children should be equally valued at Hartcliffe Nursery School. We are committed to inclusion. We strive to develop policies and practices that include all children and their families.

We strive to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to develop an environment where all children can flourish and feel safe.

Hartcliffe Nursery School is committed to providing high-quality care and education for all children. We believe that all children, including those identified as having ‘special education needs and/or disability’, have a common entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum that is accessible to them and to be fully included in all aspects of the Nursery.

Our setting is committed to inclusion. We strive to develop policies and practices that include all children and their families. We believe that no child with SEND will be discriminated against. We aim to engender a sense of community and belonging and offer new opportunities to all children and their families, responding in ways that take account of varied lives, experiences and needs.  We believe that inclusive education is about equal opportunities for all children and their families, whatever their age, gender, ethnicity, impairment, attainment and background.

This policy describes the way we meet the needs of children who experience barriers to their learning which may relate to sensory or physical impairment, communication or interaction difficulties, developmental or cognitive delay, emotional or social development, medical issues or a combination of these.

They may also relate to factors in their environment, including social factors for example, children looked after by the Local Authority, asylum seekers, refugees, travellers, minority ethnic and faith groups, learners with English as an additional language (EAL), families under stress, missing from education or at risk of disaffection and exclusion.

We recognise that children learn at different rates and that there are many factors affecting achievement including; stage of development, health, emotional wellbeing, age and maturity.  We believe that many children, at some time may experience difficulties which affect their learning and we recognise that these may be long or short term.

In accordance with the Equality Act (2010) we aim to identify these needs as they arise and provide a teaching and learning environment that enables every child to achieve their full potential.

Policy for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Inclusion (Draft)

This policy aims to ensure that:

• Pupils, staff and parents understand how our school will support pupils with medical conditions
• Pupils with medical conditions are properly supported to allow them to access the same education as other pupils, including school trips and sporting activities
• The governing board will implement this policy by:
• Making sure sufficient staff are suitably trained
• Making staff aware of pupils’ conditions, where appropriate
• Making sure there are cover arrangements to ensure someone is always available to support pupils with medical conditions
• Providing supply teachers with appropriate information about the policy and relevant pupils
• Developing and monitoring individual healthcare plans (IHPs)

Supporting Pupils With Medical Conditions Policy and Procedures

At Hartcliffe Nursery School

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s Everyone who comes into contact with children, their families and carers, has a role to play.
• In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should always consider what is in the best interests of the child.
• We take an ‘it can happen here’ approach where safeguarding is concerned.
• Everyone who comes into contact with children has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.
• Victims of harm should never be given the impression that they are creating a problem by reporting abuse, sexual violence, or sexual harassment. Nor should a victim ever be made to feel ashamed for making a report.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Hartcliffe Nursery School is committed to providing outstanding care, education and support to all our children and their families. We believe that everyone has a common entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum, which is accessible to them and that they will be fully included in all aspects of the Nursery.

At Hartcliffe Nursery School we believe that all children and their families should be equally valued. We strive to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to develop an environment where everyone can flourish and feel safe. We work hard to develop cultures, policies and practices that include all children and their families.

We acknowledge that a significant proportion of children will have special educational needs at some time in their school career. Some of these children may require help throughout their time in school, whilst others may need a little extra support for a short period to help overcome more short term needs.

Accessibility Policy and Plan – October 2023

Hartcliffe Nursery School is committed to ensuring that all our users have a voice and continually improving on the services and experiences we offer our children, families and visitors. We take all complaints very seriously and commit to investigating them to the best of our ability. In order to investigate your complaint as fully as possible the governing body of Hartcliffe Nursery School has implemented a staged approach. We are fully committed to dealing with all complaints fairly and impartially, in a friendly, respectful and professional way as it is in everyone’s best interest to help ensure the matter can be resolved as quickly and informally as possible.

Complaints Policy