Inclusion - our heart for all
At Madcaps, we believe that every child is unique, and we welcome children of all abilities and with a wide range of additional needs.
We understand that choosing childcare can sometimes feel daunting when your child has additional needs, a medical condition, developmental delay or behaviour that you are concerned about. We work closely with families to understand each child’s individual needs and, wherever possible, put the right support in place to help them thrive.
Supporting your child’s individual needs
If your child has been diagnosed with a condition, we are very happy to discuss their needs with you and explore how we can best support them.
We welcome children with a wide range of needs, including diabetes, severe allergies and other medical conditions, physical limitations, developmental difficulties and conditions which may contribute to behavioural challenges.
Where appropriate and depending on your child’s individual needs, we can provide 1:1 support and care to help them participate fully in the setting and enjoy their time with us.
Working together when concerns arise
Sometimes there may not be a formal diagnosis, but you may have concerns about your child’s development or behaviour. Perhaps they are experiencing difficulties with communication, displaying behaviours that concern you, or have a speech or language delay.
We can work alongside you to understand what your child needs. Where appropriate, we can help to involve relevant support professionals and work together to put individual plans, strategies and adjustments in place.
Our aim is to make sure that your child feels understood, supported and included.
A team around your child
We believe that the best outcomes come from everyone working together. We work closely with a range of local professionals and organisations, including:
- Health Visitors
- Specialist Early Years Teaching Team in Lincolnshire
- Portage
- Children’s Centres
- Local primary schools
- Community Paediatrics
- Speech and Language specialists
This joined-up approach helps us to support your child throughout their time with us and, importantly, to help make their transition into school as smooth as possible.
Supporting the journey into school
Where appropriate, we can work alongside you and other professionals to help gather the information, reports and assessments needed to explore longer-term support through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process.
Parents are involved throughout this process, and an EHCP can provide valuable information and support that can continue with your child as they move into school. This helps their new school understand their individual needs and put appropriate support in place from the beginning.
For children with more significant or complex needs, the process may also help families explore whether a specialist provision would be more appropriate than a mainstream primary school.
Working together for your child
Above all, we want families to feel that they are not alone. We listen, communicate and work in partnership with parents and professionals to give every child the best possible start.
If you have any questions about your child’s individual needs, please get in touch with us. We are always happy to have a conversation and discuss how we can support your family.