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Childcare and SEND

SEND stands for special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities (D).  All Ofsted registered early years childcare providers must have arrangements in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The local authority offer support to all childcare providers to help them:

  • Provide an inclusive environment in which children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are supported to reach their full potential which is set out in the setting’s SEND Policy.
  • Work closely with parents and/or carers to identify the strengths and needs of children with special educational needs.
  • Plan and deliver a range of SEN strategies and interventions to support children in the early years with a range of SEND.
  • Undertake training and make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of children with SEND.
  • Work with outside agencies e.g. Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Health Visitors, Family Hubs and other local partner agencies.

Search for:

Early years childcare providers who have specified they have experience in supporting children with SEND

More information and useful links

Funded childcare for children aged 9 months to 4 years

Government funding for your early years provider to support your child (Opens in New Window)

  • Disability access fund (DAF)
  • SEN inclusion fund (SIF)

Progress check at age 2 (Opens in New Window)

Portage Service (Opens in New Window)

A home-visiting education and support service for pre-school children with complex learning needs and developmental delays. 

The SEND Code of Practice 2014 (Opens in New Window)

This details the responsibilities that councils, early years settings and schools in England, have to support children with SEND.

Choosing Childcare information

Coram Family and Childcare (Opens in New Window)

Hear from parents of children with SEND using childcare services

Help sheets (Opens in New Window)

Resources to assist parents or carers with helping their early years child with SEND to play and learn important skills.