Nursery World Awards 2021 - Inclusive Practice

You can download the digital Awards book here

Footprints Learning for Life is an Ofsted-rated Outstanding setting, based in one of the of most deprived areas of the UK, and believes firmly in the individual child, and that one size does not fit all.

Its children come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and have a wide range of needs and abilities, from those with abusive backgrounds, autism, ADHD, deafness, global developmental delay, chromosomal and genetic conditions, to cancer, blindness, or diabetes.

Each one has their own care plan with a keyworker who knows the child completely and understands how to successfully develop their unique skill set, enhancing their learning with effective cultural capital to enable them to thrive.

By offering parents a fully flexible service across the week, with additional transport if they wish, Footprints ensures that childcare is catered to each individual family’s needs.

The setting has excellent working relationships with parents and external professionals, including agencies such as fostering, adoption, special needs groups and social workers.

Menus are diverse and wide-ranging, giving the children experiences of many different tastes and cultures while ensuring allergies and cultural requests are fully respected.

The staff team, aged from 17 to 74, is as diverse as the children, and some have additional needs which are incorporated into working practice by making reasonable adjustments. Footprints works with a local HR professional to ensure all policies and procedures are fully inclusive and respectful to all.

Staff also undertake a bereavement course with the local hospice to assist children who may recently have lost a parent or other family member.

Student placements are offered regularly to local training institutions, including the nearby Catcote Academy, which places students who have a wide range of needs and abilities. This has led Footprints to act as a lead role model in a national careers initiative for young people with additional needs. The setting is also part of the Parliamentary Review, and staff work with government ministers to influence change.

Footprints caters for children with additional needs when other settings decline, offering places at the setting’s own cost from a meagre budget even when places aren’t funded by other means.

There are no big budgets or flourishing finances, and Footprints operates on a very tight budget to remain sustainable, but the setting believes in prioritising people over money. The setting provides the neediest children with one-to-one support in a safe and nurturing setting until assessment is completed and funding sourced.

In this way, Footprints provides all its children with adventure and opportunity, and believes everyone can flourish in their own way.

FINALISTS

Kids Planet Beamont, Warrington

Tiny Tree Day Nursery, Leeds

CRITERION

Open to services or projects that promote equality of opportunity and the best outcomes for all children, regardless of ethnic origin, special needs, background or disadvantage

Sponsored by