What is the role of the Early Years and SEND Team?
The Early Years and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) teams work in parallel to focus support and advice to Early Years Providers to ensure high quality, inclusive provision that reduces inequalities and improves outcomes for children under five in Reading.
Portage advisors also provide support to children under five with SEND and their families, within groups and at home, with a focus on individual achievement.
Who we are
Early Years and SEND team
|
Name |
Title |
Email Address |
Mobile Telephone Number |
Telephone Number |
|
Becky Gibson |
Team Manager |
07422 078 953 |
0118 9373003 |
|
|
Aimee Trimmer |
Early Years SEND Team Manager |
07813 723 163 |
0118 9374981 |
|
|
Jayne Clark |
Early Years Development Officer |
07973 689 441 |
0118 9373168 |
|
|
Deborah Wood |
Childcare Compliance Manager |
07970 406 586 |
0118 9376896 |
|
|
Lorna McGifford |
Extended Childcare Project Officer |
07813 621 948 |
0118 9376885 |
|
|
Katrina Shakespeare |
Early Years Data, Sufficiency and Performance Manager |
|
0118 9372560 |
|
|
Angela Smith |
Early Years SEND Advisor |
07973 689 426 |
0118 9376727 |
|
|
Sam Smith |
Early Years SEND Advisor |
07970 725 152 |
0118 9376881 |
|
|
Jenny Chapman |
EYFS Prime Area Development Officer (PADO) |
07790 773 966 |
0118 9374454 |
|
|
Lisa Paine |
EYFS Prime Area Development Officer (PADO) |
07977 290 853 |
0118 9376005 |
|
|
Vicki Allen |
Operations and Support Officer |
07812 461 472 |
0118 9374730 |
Portage team
| Name | Extension (internal) | Mobile | |
| Jessica Kenward – Senior Portage Worker | 72089 | 07773 197 126 | Jessica.Kenward@brighterfuturesforchildren.org |
| Tanya Lacey Froude – Portage Worker | 76883 | 07515 629 094 | Tanya.Lacey-Froude@brighterfuturesforchildren.org |
| Tracy Clarke – Portage Worker | 76032 | 07843 642 518 | Tracy.Clarke@brighterfuturesforchildren.org |
| Michelle Clark – Portage Worker | 76729 | 07515 629 092 | Michelle.Clark@brighterfuturesforchildren.org |
| Isobel (Izzy) Wood – Portage Worker | 72621 | 07773 197 400 | Isobel.Wood@brighterfuturesforchildren.org |
| Onyedikachi Abiodun-Ekus – Portage Worker | 74231 | 07976 892 678 | Onyedikachi.Abiodun-Ekus@brighterfuturesforchildren.org |
What we offer
Early Years is a statutory service under Childcare Act 2016 and our responsibilities include:
Securing sufficient childcare, which is high quality, flexible, inclusive and accessible to all children, with a focus on those families who are disadvantaged.
Providing information to parents and prospective parents which is up to date, easily accessible, online and which details available childcare, early education and funded spaces in the local area.
Ensuring the availability of information, advice and training for childcare providers which promotes high-quality provision with regard to the following matters:
- Meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage
- Meeting the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities, vulnerable and disadvantaged children
- Effective safeguarding and child protection
Sufficiency
Early Years service has a duty to secure enough childcare for working parents, for funded 2 year olds, and all 3–4 year olds. They are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duties and to make this report available and accessible.
Sufficiency reports can be found here.
The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development. It is important that all children can access high quality interactions throughout the day in a language rich environment.
Click the button below to head over to our speech, language and communication hub.
For information to support Early Years providers and practitioners in Reading, visit our dedicated transitions page here.
The Early Years service fulfils the duty under the Childcare Act 2016 to provide information, advice and training to childcare providers. Local authorities must ensure they meet their duties under the Equality Act 2010 and take account of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) Code of Practice 0-25 when securing free places, promoting equality and inclusion.
Click here for the Early Years training programme 2023
Click here for the Early Years autumn term 2023 training programme
Click here for EY safeguarding information and training dates 2023/2024
Contact us
You can also visit the Reading Education Services website or if you want to get in touch, email us at:
Early Years Newsletter
We produce a termly newsletter to keep you up to date with the latest information, resources, top tips and advice. Click the image to open the edition below.
We have received funding for a new project to support babies born over the pandemic who will have missed out on opportunities to learn and socialise due to lockdown, and who may need some extra help to catch up on their development. Click the button on the right to learn more and to make a referral.
