Transcript

KAREN NASH:

So we have lots of children here in the nursery that have medical health needs.

NICOLA FARMER:

Conditions, yes, we do.

KAREN NASH:

Or children with additional needs here that we have to make sure that we get all that knowledge and information from parents to enable us to care for them in a safe manner here at nursery.

NICOLA FARMER:

Really important for them, isn't it, that we make sure that we understand their level of ability.

KAREN NASH:

Their condition, gathering all that information from parents in the first place so that we can be able to care for their child really. I think it's quite a worrying time for parents.

NICOLA FARMER:

It is, yeah.

KAREN NASH:

Especially where their child's got additional health needs.

NICOLA FARMER:

Yeah, so asthma. I mean, asthma is quite a big one, isn't it, nationwide really, isn't it? So we have to look at our ways that we do things. We have to make sure we've got the care plan in place. And then make sure that they can still access areas.

KAREN NASH:

We have to talk to the parents, don't we, about how we can manage that. Especially on a cold and frosty morning, we have to be confident that parents understand that we're going to care and look after their child really.

NICOLA FARMER:

And we might have to adapt our own practice to enable a child to still go outside and not feel singled out that they can't either go outside, or we might have to do something different like wrapping a scarf around.

KAREN NASH:

And then get all the other children to put scarves on as well so that child isn't singled out as well.

NICOLA FARMER:

Yeah, exactly.

KAREN NASH:

I think we have to share that information with parents so that they know that we're keeping their children safe as well while they're here.

NICOLA FARMER:

Actually, there was a family, wasn't there, that we were working with a few years ago, where the child was deemed to be obese.

KAREN NASH:

We did lots of work with the family. And I know that we asked them to see if the child would come on a scooter or a bike. And then we decided to ask all the parents of the children in that room if they would come in so that the child wasn't singled out, just so that they feel included.

NICOLA FARMER:

And we've had to work closely with parents and also other professionals as well. And a lot of the children will have a team around the family, won't they?

KAREN NASH:

Yes, so we've had physiotherapists come in, speech and language, lots of things really linked to health as well as children's.

NICOLA FARMER:

Community nurses, do you remember, actually? We had a child that had to be fed through.

KAREN NASH:

Gastronomy button.

NICOLA FARMER:

That's right, yes.

KAREN NASH:

Yes, the staff had to have training through a community nurse. And then we had a little boy in our under-twos room. He was actually older. And we had to adapt our practice to meet his needs, so ensuring that we carried out his physio throughout the day, and making it in a fun and playful way really so that he didn't know he was being singled out by anybody. So we had to make sure that everything we did-- so during signing, because he couldn't communicate.

NICOLA FARMER:

That's right.

KAREN NASH:

And then he had his stand that he used to go in.

NICOLA FARMER:

Yeah. And obviously, the practitioners had to learn how to put him into that stand, didn't they, and the correct way to do it as well.

KAREN NASH:

Yeah, being able then to manipulate his legs and move his feet. I think it's all really contributed, yeah. And the other little boy that we had with the child syndrome. I think we really found that when he was here in the nursery, everything that the staff did as well as working with the family and professionals helped, didn't it. So when he came, he couldn't talk. He couldn't feed anything, couldn't eat anything, couldn't walk. And then by the time he left us, he was doing it all, and he was signing. Yes.

NICOLA FARMER:

It took quite a lot. We used to have to do physio, didn't we? Do you remember on his feet? We'd have to do little movements on his feet to get his feet moving. And for him to obviously reach down to.

KAREN NASH:

And I think that was a real success for, obviously, us here in the nursery, wasn't it, to go on then and to help other families.

NICOLA FARMER:

And to know how far he's come as an older child as well.

KAREN NASH:

Yeah, we can put that across then for parents, can't we? And then we have the local offer, which is an information tool and on-site learning tool for parents.

NICOLA FARMER:

With all our information, isn't it?

KAREN NASH:

Yeah, it just shows parents and gives them the confidence to see what we've actually done in children with medical needs.

NICOLA FARMER:

We supported them.

KAREN NASH:

Yeah, how we meet their needs. And experiences of staff really.

NICOLA FARMER:

Yes.

KAREN NASH:

And if we don't have that experience, it's knowing that we will go somewhere and find out, if we can't get them all the information.

NICOLA FARMER:

Key isn't it, to do.

KAREN NASH:

I think that's really from all the success. It's from everybody sharing and working together.

NICOLA FARMER:

Yeah, that partnership between everybody, isn't it, the professionals, the staff, the parents, the children, everybody.

KAREN NASH:

I think it really helps towards children's mental health and well-being really, all leading to them being physically active and healthy.