Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Team

The Sefton SEN and Inclusion Service – Early Years team works with early years providers to develop staff awareness of SEN or disabilities.  This can be through casework involving individual children and also through training.  Core training is offered to all early years providers around specific types of SEN, for example Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as around different areas of learning and development, for example, social, emotional and behavioural development.  Local area early years network meetings offer a chance for early years practitioners to meet to share good practice and to raise awareness of issues specific to SEN and disability. Training packages for settings offering funded early education for two-year old's are also available. 

Support is provided for children aged 0-5 years with SEN or disabilities who are transitioning into early years settings, including schools.  The team link closely with parents/carers, attend transition planning meetings and provide information and advice to receiving settings.  Liaison also takes place with other agencies in order to help coordinate services.   Where a child with SEN or disabilities transfers into the Reception class of a mainstream school, the Sefton SEN and Inclusion Service - Early Years team can remain involved until the end of the child’s first term in school from which point it is expected that schools consult with services for school aged children and young people if further involvement with a child or young person is thought necessary.

Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Team