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Early Years (0-5)
If your child attends a nursery or another type of early years setting and you feel they have SEND needs, then you should first speak to the nursery teacher and/or the SENCO at the setting. You can discuss your concerns with the teacher/SENCO and find out what they can do to support your child in the setting.
What does Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support in the Early Years mean?
Chapter Five of the SEN and Disability Code of Practice 2015 (the Code) covers SEND in the Early Years.
The Code applies to all children in early years settings that receive local authority funding (including private/independent providers), whether or not they have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP).
Providers must have arrangements in place to support children with SEND. These arrangements should include a clear approach to identifying and responding to SEND.
The Code identifies four broad areas of need:
- Communication and interaction
- Cognition and learning
- Social, emotional, and mental health
- Sensory and/or physical needs.
See more on our About Special Educational Needs and Disabilities page.
Those who work with young children should be alert to emerging difficulties and respond early. Parent/carers know their children best and it is important that all practitioners listen and understand when they express concerns about their child’s development. They should also listen to and address any concerns raised by children themselves. Early years providers must provide information for parents/carers on how they support children with SEN and disabilities.
Early Years’ SEND Inclusion Funding and Disability Access Fund
The Early Years Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF) supports a child's identified needs whilst they attend a childcare provider.
Early years childcare providers include:
- childminders
- nurseries and schools
- other private, voluntary, or independent early years providers
Funding is paid directly to the childcare provider where it is used to increase staffing ratios or provide resources.
The Early Years Disability Access Fund (DAF) is funding that supports early years providers to make reasonable adjustments. If a child receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA), this may be an option. These adjustments help build a child’s capacity or benefit all children attending the provider. This might be small adaptations or special equipment that helps a child.
Early years childcare providers include:
- childminders
- nurseries and schools
- other private, voluntary, or independent early years providers
It is awarded at a fixed annual rate per child and does not affect any other benefits or funding the parent, carer or child receives.
Please see the following Easy Read documents- SEN Inclusion Funding and Disability Access Fund
SEN Inclusion Funding – Easy Read
Disability Access Fund – Easy Read
Early Years Inclusion Team
Our Early Years Inclusion Service (EYIS) support children in an early years setting that is private, voluntary or independent (PVI). You can find out more about the service below:
Early Years Inclusion Service (EYIS) | Greenwich Community Directory
Education, Health and Care Plans
Younger children with complex needs may need an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP). This can be discussed with the early years setting. You can find out more information about EHCP’s on our Education Health and Care Plans page.
Information on how to make a parent/carer request for an EHCP assessment can be found on our EHC Needs Assessments page.
Useful Links
Supporting a child aged 0 to 5 | Royal Borough of Greenwich
Resources to support children aged 0 to 5 | Greenwich Community Directory
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Offer | Greenwich Community Directory
Nurseries and early learning | Royal Borough of Greenwich (royalgreenwich.gov.uk)
Home-Start Greenwich (homestartgreenwich.org.uk)
Statutory Guidance and Policies
Early Years Guide to the SEND Code of Practice [PDF 427KB]
Early years entitlements: local authority funding guide 2024 to 2025
SEN and Disability Code of Practice 2015
EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers
Early years foundation stage statutory framework for childminders