"Nursery has supported my daughter well in her speech development and encouraged her to progress in this area where she is slightly delayed. This has been recognised and not left behind."

"Learning on an individual basis depending on the child's ability and development compared to others. The room is wonderful and has a lovely homely feel."

^{Parent and Carers Surery December 2025}

At Little VIPs, we are passionately committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where every child feels safe, valued and able to thrive. Inclusion is a core priority woven throughout all aspects of our practice. We celebrate diversity and work proactively to ensure equality of opportunity, recognising and respecting each child’s unique background, needs and abilities. Our experienced team uses thoughtful planning, continuous observation and meaningful partnerships with families and professionals to support all children — including those with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who may face barriers to learning and well-being — so that every child can participate fully and achieve their potential. We foster a culture of respect, belonging and curiosity, helping children understand and appreciate differences, and laying the foundations for confident, positive learners.

We have a dedicated Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENCo) in the nursery, Hayley Fassam, and we have access to the school's SENDCo, Toinette Thomas.

We have a Special Educational Needs and Disability Policy in place which can be found under policies together with documents providing more information about accessing support and the role of the Local Authority.

We use the Graduated Approach to assess and respond to need as illustrated in the diagram below:

If you have a child with SEND, then please contact Hayley Fassam in the first instance to discuss how we can support your child:  hayley.fassam@lowther.cumbria.sch.uk

To contact the SEND team at Westmorland and Furness:

Phone:  01229 407403

Email:  SEND@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk 

Click here for more information on the Westmorland and Furness Local Offer