Dingley’s Promise in Droitwich

Dingley’s Promise early years centre in Droitwich opens to families in January 2025 and will be providing a specialist enhanced provision for children under 5 with a range of special educational needs and disabilities.

Our dedicated and passionate staff team will work closely with children and families, within a holistic approach to provide a safe, nurturing and supportive space for our families. We will work with a range of external professionals to ensure children’s individual needs are met and take a celebratory approach to learning and development – sharing all children’s successes with their family.

We have two warm and welcoming play rooms. Our intent is to create an inclusive environment for our children where they can have fun and explore a range of diverse activities and opportunities. Each is created to encourage learning across 7 areas of the EYFS and nurture the 8 senses. Children have access to cosy areas, creative areas, malleable resources, sensory and messy play resources as well as books, small world and block play areas, where children can explore freely and learn through play. In addition to our play based approach, we implement our Dingley’s promise curriculum to provide enhancements to children’s play and further extend opportunities for them to learn and grow. The centre has a relaxing sensory den where children can self-regulate, exploring emotions with key people and a brand new free-flow sensory room is set to be installed in Spring 2025.

The centre has an outdoor play area, offering bikes, scooters and hands on natural experiences with the mud kitchen, loose parts, construction and is a developing play space. There is an all-weather playground, with a grassed area, offering children the opportunity to engage in outdoor play come rain or shine.

We work alongside the early years inclusion team and area SENCOs to identify children in need of a placement at our enhanced provision.

We work with other early years providers to provide outreach support, share best practice and practical strategies to help meet the needs of SEND children in mainstream provision.

Our focus is on breaking barriers and overcoming challenges that children with SEND may face.

Our Droitwich centre provides:

• Collaborative working in the WANDS family hub with Action for Children.

• Collaborative working with external professionals such as speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapies. Hosting these professions and implementing strategies in session for individual children’s needs.

• Family support workers who are able to offer holistic support at home and a wide range of opportunities at the centre including stay & play sessions & coffee mornings, building a network of families sharing lived experiences and helping to improve support for families.

Centre Manager : Sophie Harrison

Sophie has been working in childcare for over 10 years, in various roles. She has always found working with children and adults with SEND a truly rewarding experience. She is passionate about ensuring children with additional needs are able to have the same opportunities as their peers and prides herself in being an advocate for SEND, ensuring that children’s wants, wishes and dreams are valued and listened to. Sophie feels it is essential that strong relationships are built with professionals, families, and children, ensuring that home and the centre are working together to achieve the best care, education and support for the children on an individual basis.

Deputy Manager : Gemma Cook

Gemma is a dedicated professional with over ten years of experience in early childhood development, having worked in various educational and nursery settings. She has a strong passion for supporting children on the autism spectrum and with additional needs, and she develops tailored strategies that promote their growth while ensuring an inclusive environment. Holding a Foundation Degree in Early Years, Gemma is currently completing her dissertation for a top up degree on Integrated Working with Children and Families. She deeply advocates for children with SEND, and actively participates in the Autism Show to stay informed about the latest research and strategies. Gemma believes in building strong relationships with children, families and colleagues. She celebrates each child’s milestones as personal achievements. For her, this work is more than just a career; it is a fulfilling journey that inspires her to impact the lives of young children and their families positively.

Family Support Worker : Karen Gale

Karen began working with children at the age of 13. She qualified as an NNEB in 1991. She was the manager of a new nursery facility, in Worcestershire following her time in college and then joined two nurseries in Droitwich as a manager and deputy manager. After the birth of her two children, Karen moved into primary education. Karen learnt quickly how challenging mainstream education can be for children and their families and receiving the right support and fighting the hard battles to gain even a diagnosis. Due to this experience Karen gained further experience in Social Work and then into Family Support within Worcestershire and actively advocates for families and joins a journey alongside each individual family member. Karen has experience and knowledge of working in a multi-agency team, and chairs Early Help meetings, setting targets for professionals to meet. She also has vast amounts of knowledge and experience in many areas of family life.