Nursery Case Study: It Takes A Village

We recently opened our doors and our hearts to a lovely family referred to us by a local Health Visitor. Originally from Nigeria and having just relocated to North Tyneside from London, mum, dad, and their two twins are navigating a challenging new chapter in temporary housing in North Shields. Following a sudden change in their “right to remain” status, they currently face restrictions on working and accessing benefits—a whirlwind situation for any family trying to find their feet.

One of the twins joined us with specific sensory needs and has yet to begin using verbal communication—challenges likely stemming from a premature birth and overcoming a severe blood infection at just two months old. After a few gentle settling-in visits, our team hit the ground running. Our SENCO and his key worker are collaborating closely with Speech and Language and the Early Years Inclusion teams. Together, we’ve implemented a graduated support plan to ensure he has exactly what he needs to flourish.

They say it takes a village, and our local community has really stepped up to help. We initiated an early help process to unite professionals from Health, Family Gateway, and other essential support services. But our care extends beyond the nursery gates:

• Food Security: With massive thanks to local legends like Barry’s Fruit and Veg and our local food banks, we’ve successfully coordinated regular food parcels.
• A Taste of Home: We managed to get their broken cooker repaired, allowing the family to move away from microwave meals and finally sit down to proper, home-cooked dinners together.

Welcoming a family with a refugee background has been a profound learning opportunity for all the children in our care. It has enriched our curriculum, allowing us to celebrate diversity and different life experiences. Through the beautiful children’s book “My Name is Not Refugee,” we are exploring these journeys in a positive, empowering way, teaching our little ones that while everyone has a different story, we all belong here together.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive setting, where no matter what barriers children face in their early development, we work hard in line with our core values to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.