We have a few toolkits that you can use as your first point of call when you have a child with special educational needs and/or disability in your setting that you need to support.

• The first is the SEND strategies toolkit which includes different approaches to support children with additional needs. We encourage you to work towards embedding these strategies to become part of your universal provision as it will support all children’s development.
• The second is the SENCO toolkit which is a one stop toolkit for your settings SENCO. You should have a named SENCO that oversees the provision that a child may require in their room; liaise with parent/carers and oversees the CPD development for staff. It is important to remember it is not the responsibility of the SENCO to do all the strategies but to support and over see this.
• Thirdly, we have a PowerPoint presentation to guide practitioners through writing an individual support plan (ISP) for a child with additional needs. It includes an example plan and guidance on best practice. This can be used for information or as a support tool when writing ISPs.

For your convenience, please see the links below to further support you when writing an ISP, also listed on the last slide in the PowerPoint.

This free early years inclusion CPD programme is available for all practitioners who work with children under five.

This includes early years practitioners in settings and schools; childminders; Portage workers; children’s centre workers; health visiting team; children and young people’s therapists; social care and early help practitioners and many more!? 

This programme will be running several different modules that you can pick and choose to suit your CPD development related to early years inclusion, including specific modules that will benefit particular practitioners.

The first four modules that are available now are:

1. Inclusive practice in early years
2. Transitions in early years
3. Supporting behaviours that challenge
4. Having difficult conversations with parents

?Each practitioner has to register individually to be able to access their individual training portals using the link below:

Early Years Inclusion Programme – Dingley’s Promise

This gives access to the modules which you can complete at your own pace and in your own chosen time and be informed of new modules when they are released.

SALT Surgeries

On the third Thursday of each month you can book a 15 minute slot with a Speech and Language therapist to discuss and receive advice about a child for who you may have speech and language concerns. This can be anonymous.

SALT surgery bookings

From May 2024, Tuesdays will become an EY SEND advisor contact day when you can phone to speak with an advisor for advice and guidance about a child or SEND provision.

On the first and third Tuesday of each month (term time only) you can contact SEND Advisor, Sam on: 07970 725 152 

On the second and fourth Tuesday of each month you can contact SEND Advisor, Angela on: 0118 937 6726 or 07973 689 426 

If you have provided initial support for a child based on our SEND resources online and our training but you are still concerned about their progress, or you need additional advice, refer to the Early Years team using the form linked below.

EY Advisory team parent permission form (downloads Word referral form)

Our inclusion award is a fantastic opportunity for you to review and develop your SEND provision.

It compliments our comprehensive CPD programme and allows time to reflect and communicate with your team about your SEND priorities. You can celebrate your successes by achieve the award at three different levels, allowing you to promote this on the Reading SEND Local Offer site and with a plaque in your setting demonstrating your commitment to being inclusive.

Click here for more information

Early Years Inclusion Funding is available for early years settings to apply for to support a child’s special educational needs.

This is for children who are eligible for early years funding entitlement. The Early Years Inclusion Funding supports settings to provide interventions over a period of time to support the child’s development.

Click here for more information and how to apply

The Disability Access Fund (DAF) was introduced in April 2017 to support disabled children’s access to the entitlements for three and four year olds. Providers receive lump sum of funds per eligible child per year. The funds could be used, for example, to support providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings and/or helping with building capacity, be that for the child in question or for the benefit of all the children attending the setting. 

More information is on the Disability Access Fund page on Reading SEND Local Offer.

Please refer to the Early Years page for our full CPD programme which includes training in SEND: Under 5s and early years services | Brighter Futures for Children