Support from the Early Years Inclusion Service (EYIS)

A child can be referred if they: 

• live in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
• access funded early learning.   
• attend  a private, voluntary or independent (PVI) setting including going to a childminder (not school based) 

If you think a child needs further support, talk to the child’s parents about making a referral, this would either be targeted support or specialist support. 

Targeted support 

If the child has emerging needs requiring only one health service, talk to the parents about making a referral to the EYIS for education support.  

To refer a child to the EYIS, you must: 

• complete the SEND Outreach Services referral form
• Include a signed parental consent
• complete the EYIT appendix 

Download and email or post the SEND Outreach Services referral form to us:

If the child has more complex needs requiring 3 or more services, talk to the parents about making a referral to the Early Years Co-ordination Team. 

After a child has been referred

Once a child has been referred, the allocated Area SENCo will consult with the setting to gather information about the issues and support needed. 

This may include:   

• a discussion with parents
• a discussion with staff
• an observation of the child to identify their needs
• reviewing the child’s Early Years Foundation Stage tracking or setting information
• direct work with the child  

We may need more information, for example detailed observations during the consultation.  

Once we have enough information, we’ll decide the level of ongoing support we think the child needs and share it with you and the parents. This can be 1 of 3 options: 

Option 1: Universal support is meeting the child’s needs 

If we think the child is receiving enough support through the early years setting and no direct help is needed at this point. 

Option 2: The child has an emerging need or disability and could use targeted support 

In this case: 

• the setting will continue to support your child
• we will allocate the setting to an Area SENCo who will offer advice as and when asked by the setting
• the early years setting will continue to get universal support from the Early Years Inclusion service and access a range of online support for early years providers.
• the setting can discuss any concerns with an Area SENCo in the targeted needs service by phoning 020 8921 3311 and asking to speak to Antoinette Hunte
• early years practitioners can join a consultation forum to share advice and information on SEND-related issues and develop reflective thinking to problem solve.
• the setting can request a review if there are significant concerns after the setting have used the above support options

Option 3: The child has more complex needs and needs specialist support 

We will re-allocate them an Area SENCo in the specialist service.  

The Area SENCo will support the early years setting to change the curriculum and environment to make sure the child makes the best possible progress. This includes using the assess, plan, do and review cycle and building a profile for the child.