We plan our teaching and learning experiences so that each child can aspire to achieve their full potential. 

The purpose of this policy is to help to ensure that we recognise and support the needs of those children in our Nursery School who have been identified as 'gifted' and/or 'talented'.  This may mean working with parents and other professionals to extend their learning to development them further. 

What do we believe 'Gifted' is?

We believe that every child is gifted in their own way.  The challenge for the educator is to find out what way each child is gifted.

Gifted children have a natural gift that means they are born with above average abilities.

Gifted children learn things after one or two attempts.  

Gifted children achieve at a level well above the average expectations for their age.  This is often across a broad range of skills.  

What do we believe 'Talented' is?

We believe that every child is talented in their own way.  

Talented children have developed their natural ability to a high level.

Talented children may have repeatedly work hard and persevered to become the best they can be at a skill or in a range of skills.

What do gifted and talented children need?

If children prefer to talk to adults rather than other children, we will support this.  Children may relate to others depending upon their development stage rather than age.  Children need the opportunity to interact with children at their development stage as well as age.

We will ensure all children are supported and challenged because:

• Children will learn differently from others of a similar age.
• Children will start the Nursery School at a different entry point.
• Children will engage in extension activities that are designed to meet their abilities and interests.
• Children will need to be challenged to enhance their development.
• Children may need assessments and support from other service professionals.
• Children may need support with the transition to school and their teacher may need to be supported to understand the achievements already made.

The training of Nursery School staff should ensure that staff have an increased awareness of early development signs of children that could be gifted.  Staff should be able to respond to children who:

• Are able to hear sounds, read and respond to a range of texts at a more advanced level.
• Use a wide vocabulary and variety of words in conversations and play.
• Have a wide comprehension of language and communication cues.
• Are able to write and draw fluently and with little support.
• Explore a broader range of strategies for solving problems.
• Establish their own strategies for problem solving.
• Are able to manipulate mathematical concepts (numbers, shapes, measurements) in a wide range of ways.

Our Managers and Director monitor all outcomes for children by tracking cohorts and individual children across the whole setting. This includes children whom are identified as gifted and talented. Management will ensure that all children are progressing at an appropriate rate from their starting points through challenging and supportive activities and opportunities. 

EYFS References: 1.1, 1.6, 1.8, 2.1, 2.3.

Dated: 12 September 2024 Review date: December 2025