If you’re worried about your child’s development, speak to your child’s nursery, pre-school or childminder.
Your child’s nursery key person can also help make sure your child is making progress and getting the right support.
How we can help
Our Early Years Inclusion Service (EYIS) support children in private, voluntary or independent (PVI) early years setting.
Your early years setting can refer your child to us for additional support if they:
- live in Royal Greenwich
- are currently receiving government funded early learning
- have emerging or complex special educational need
- attend an early years PVI setting, including childminders
Our Early Years Area Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) carry out this support.
Our Early Years Area SENCos
All PVI early years providers that receive government funding for free early learning will have an Area SENCo.
Area SENCos give general advice, support and training around early identification and special education needs and disabilities.
Referring your child
If your child needs support from 1 or 2 health and educational services, the setting can refer your child to us. This is done using the SEND Outreach Services referral form.
Your early years provider will need to complete the EYIT appendix. Post the completed form and any supporting documents to:
SEND Outreach Services
Discovery School
Battery Road
West Thamesmead
London SE28 0JN
If your child has more complex needs requiring 3 or more services, the setting can refer your child to the Early Years Co-ordination Team.
What happens after a referral
The Area SENCo will consult with your child’s setting to gather information. This may include:
- a discussion with you
- a discussion with staff
- an observation of your child to identify their needs
- reviewing your child’s Early Years Foundation Stage tracking and setting information
- direct work with your child
Once we have enough information, we’ll decide the level of ongoing support we think your child needs and share it with you. This can be 1 of 3 options:
- We think your child is receiving enough support through your early years setting and no direct help is needed at this point.
- We think your child has emerging needs that could use targeted support. Your early years setting can ask for a review on request from the Area SENCo if they need additional support. Your early years setting can also access a range of online support for early years providers.
- We think your child has complex needs and will allocate an Area SENCo. They will support the early years setting to change the curriculum and environment to make sure your child makes the best possible progress. This includes using the assess, plan, do and review cycle and building a profile for your child.
Funding support
If we’re giving your child ongoing support, your child may be eligible for additional funding support. Speak to your SENCo about SEN early years funding.
If your child receiving the Disability Living Allowance, speak to your SENCo about Disability Access Funding.