Bake N Play Cookery After School Club Special Educational Needs (SEN) Policy

1. Our Commitment

Dolce Senso Bake N Play is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment where every child has the opportunity to participate, learn and enjoy our programmes. We welcome children with SEND wherever we can reasonably meet their individual needs safely within our activities, environment and staffing arrangements.

Dolce Senso Bake N Play is an enrichment provider. We are not a specialist SEND provision, and our staff are not employed as specialist SEND practitioners or dedicated 1:1 support workers.

2. Understanding Individual Needs

Every child is different. A diagnosis alone does not determine the level of support a child may need, so we consider each child individually.

Parents/carers must inform us before attendance of any additional needs that may affect their child's participation, safety or wellbeing, including:

1:1 support received at school or nursery;

communication or sensory needs; known triggers; relevant behavioural or safety concerns;

medical or personal care needs; and strategies or adjustments that are known to help.

Where important information has not been disclosed, our ability to provide appropriate support may be affected.

3. Reasonable Adjustments

Where reasonably possible, we will make adjustments to help children participate. These may include simplified or visual instructions, additional demonstrations, extra time, adapted activities, sensory breaks or other appropriate strategies.

Because our sessions involve practical food preparation, shared workspaces and potentially hot, sharp or electrical kitchen equipment, the safety of the individual child, other children and our staff must always be considered.

4. Additional Support & Club Capacity

Our after-school clubs operate within defined group sizes and staffing levels. Staff must be able to supervise the whole group safely and cannot ordinarily provide continuous individual support to one child.

As a general operational guideline, a standard club would normally accommodate no more than two children requiring significant additional staff support without further support arrangements being agreed.

This is not a limit on the number of children with SEND. Some children with SEND may participate independently or require only minor adjustments.

We consider the individual child's needs, the needs of the wider group, staffing, environment, activities and available support when determining whether we can safely meet those needs.

5. 1:1 and Higher Support Needs

If a child receives 1:1 support at school or nursery, parents/carers must inform us before attendance.

Where we determine, after considering the child's individual needs and reasonable adjustments, that dedicated adult support is necessary for safe and meaningful participation, an appropriate supporting adult will need to attend with the child.

Where a child requires specialist or intensive support beyond the training, staffing or facilities available within our mainstream provision, we will discuss this with the parent/carer and, where appropriate, the school.

Where reasonable adjustments and additional support arrangements cannot enable safe and meaningful participation, we may determine that our provision is not suitable for the child's individual needs.

A child will not be refused participation simply because they have SEND or a disability.

6. Wellbeing, Behaviour & Safety

If a child becomes overwhelmed or distressed, staff will respond sensitively and use agreed strategies where reasonably possible.

If concerns become frequent or significantly affect the child's wellbeing or participation, we will work with parents/carers and, where appropriate, the school to review the support required.

We recognise that behaviour may sometimes be related to a child's additional needs and will consider this when deciding what action is appropriate.

However, if a child's needs or behaviour create a significant safety risk that cannot reasonably be managed or require a level of individual supervision that prevents staff from safely supervising the wider group, we may suspend or discontinue attendance after considering appropriate reasonable adjustments and available support.

Any such decision will be based on the individual circumstances and not simply on the child's SEND or disability.

7. Working Together

We believe successful inclusion works best through partnership.

We will work with parents/carers and, where appropriate, schools or nurseries to understand children's needs and identify practical strategies that support safe and enjoyable participation.

Our priority is not simply for a child to attend. We want every child to feel safe, included and able to enjoy and benefit from the experience.

8. Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect our provision, relevant legislation and good practice.

Any fees or refunds following suspension or discontinuation of attendance will be considered in accordance with our Terms and Conditions and the individual circumstances.