How Our SENCO Helps All Children Thrive at Country Kids Day Nurseries 

At Country Kids Nurseries, we believe every child deserves the chance to feel confident, capable, and included. We also recognise our responsibility to provide the right support for children who may need a little extra help. 

That’s why each of our nurseries has a dedicated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to ensure all children, including those with additional needs, are supported, understood, and able to grow in a way that’s right for them. 

What is SENCO? 

A SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) is a trained specialist who plays a vital role in supporting children with additional needs, working closely with families and staff to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life. 

Our SENCOs are the heart of our inclusive approach. They’re the people who: 

• Identify any developmental or learning concerns early on 
• Coordinate support tailored to your child’s individual needs 
• Work in partnership with parents and carers to create a clear, supportive plan 
• Liaise with professionals, such as speech and language therapists, health visitors, or local SEND services, to ensure the right help is in place 
• Train and support our nursery teams to adapt and include every child in a way that works best for them 

Supporting Every Child Across Our Nurseries 

Whether your child is just starting to talk, exploring the world through sensory play, or learning to navigate social interactions, our team is here to support their journey. 

Across all of our Country Kids Nursery settings, we work hard to create a welcoming and nurturing environment where children of all abilities can grow in confidence, build friendships, and learn through play. 

We understand that early years are a time of rapid development, and for some children, this may come with a few extra challenges. That’s why our SENCOs are proactive in spotting signs of additional needs and work hand in hand with families to put the right support in place early. 

The Role of the Wellcomm Assessment 

As part of our early support strategy, all Country Kids Nurseries use the Wellcomm Toolkit, a nationally recognised resource for assessing children’s speech and language development. 

This assessment is carried out for all children over the age of two, either when they join our nursery or when they transition into our toddler rooms. While many nurseries do not use Wellcomm due to its high cost, we’ve chosen to invest in it across all our settings because we know just how vital early communication is. 

The assessment itself is simple, child-friendly, and play-based, designed to highlight any areas where a child may benefit from extra help with their speech, language, or understanding. 

Once the assessment is complete, our SENCOs share the results with parents and, if needed, put a clear plan in place. For children who may need additional support, our SENCOs run small-group intervention sessions (usually over a period of nine weeks) to build language skills, boost confidence, and create strong foundations for learning. 

These sessions are gentle, engaging, and tailored to the individual needs of each child. They not only support communication but also help children feel more confident in expressing themselves and connecting with others. 

A Tailored Approach 

We don’t believe in a one size fits all approach. Instead, we build individual support plans that reflect each child’s personality, interests, and learning style. Whether it's offering quieter spaces, adapting activities to suit different learning needs, or using visuals and sensory tools, we tailor our approach to help every child thrive. 

Our rural, nature-inspired ethos also plays a big role in this. Many of the children we support benefit greatly from outdoor play, sensory-rich environments, and small group interactions, all of which are part of everyday life at Country Kids. 

Working Together with You 

We know that discovering your child might need extra support can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Our SENCOs are here not just for the children, but for the families too. 

We’re here to listen, to guide, and to celebrate every little milestone with you. Whether you have concerns, questions, or just need someone to talk to, we’re here. 

Giving Children the Best Start 

At Country Kids Nurseries, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated. With the right support, all children can flourish and with our passionate SENCOs by their side, they do. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we support additional needs across our nurseries, or you’d like to speak to one of our SENCOs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Book a visit to one of our nurseries here.