This page explains how Springboard can support mainstream preschool settings, childminders & primary schools in our North Wiltshire catchment area.
Inclusion Support
From 1 September 2024 Simara Kiely will be taking on the newly created role of Inclusion Support Manager (ISM). Through this role Springboard hopes to offer more support to mainstream childcare settings in North Wiltshire. Simara will be known to many settings through her previous work as Deputy Manager SENCO at Springboard. You can read Simara’s profile HERE.
What is the Inclusion Support Manager (ISM) role?
The ISM will work in partnership with pre school settings & childminders in North Wiltshire to support the inclusion of shared children into their mainstream childcare setting.
When you have shared child with Springboard you can request support from the ISM by using our online Inclusion Support Form. The ISM will then contact you to agree an approach that will meet your support needs.
There are several potential support options available:
- telephone/virtual discussion,
- setting visit
- signposting to online resources or referral to other agencies
- attend a workshop
It might be that you need to run through a specific scenario, attend one of our workshops or would like Simara to come out and offer some onsite support. We really want to tailor the support according to the needs of the child in your setting.
Once a course of action has been agreed between yourselves and Simara, together we will create an Inclusion Plan to agree the aims and desired outcomes of this support.
When Simara is not supporting settings directly, she will be working on resources such as workshops and newsletters to increase the ways in which settings can access support.
Current Workshop Schedule
If you wish to attend one of the ISM workshops please let Simara know via the Springboard office on 01249 657145
These workshops are for North Wiltshire childcare settings only.
- 17th October 2024 9.30am-11am – Attention Activity
- 29th January 2025 5.30pm – 7pm – TEACCH
- 24th February 2025 5.30pm-7pm – Attention Activity
- 19th May 2025 2.30pm-4pm – TEACCH
Please keep checking the schedule – we hope to add more topics soon (subject to demand).
In-reach Opportunities
We know from experience that many settings like to have staff visit Springboard to appreciate their shared child in a specialist provision. This would be considered an in-reach visit and again would be agreed between you and Simara, the reasons for visits can be for things such as observing approaches such as TEACCH, Attention Autism, Total Communication
Simara will coordinate these visits to enable mainstream staff to get what they need from this support.
Transition Planning
The ISM role is key to supporting a child’s inclusion into a mainstream pre-school and will work with settings to establish an effective transition plan. This also includes supporting the transition into primary school. We know from experience that parental and practitioner confidence is key to a successful transition and we want to offer our support in this area.
Contact the ISM
To make a request to Simara please use our online request form CLICK HERE.
Even if you are not sure if, or what help you require, the first step in the process is to complete the online form and Simara will be in touch.
Simara’s usual working pattern is Monday – Friday 8am-4pm during term time.
There are some holiday and evening support slots available, please contact Simara for further details.
