SEN & Disability

Sure Start works with parents and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of pre-school children to ensure they are ready to learn on entry to school. Sure Start providers help identify children at risk of developing learning disabilities and provide or arrange to provide appropriate early intervention and support.

FAQ: Use of the General Sure Start Grant (31/05/06)

Click here to download Frequently Asked Questions about the use of the General Sure Start Grant This document outlines information on funding inclusion, the role of SENCOs and includes suggestions for use of the new Transformation Fund to train early years staff to support disabled children aged 0-5 years.

Removing Barriers to Achievement: the Government’s Strategy for SEN

The Government’s Strategy for Special Educational Needs, was launched in February 2004. It sets out the Government's vision for enabling children with special educational needs to realise their potential and a programme of sustained action and review over a number of years to support early years settings, schools and local authorities in improving provision for children with SEN in four key areas. It builds on the proposals for integrating children's services in the Every Child Matters Green Paper and includes a strategy for improving childcare for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Strategy sets out the Government's objectives and priorities for future action in the short and longer-term, embedding SEN and disability in mainstream policy and practice, and focusing on improving outcomes for children and young people. The strategy is available to download here.

The Government also produced 'The Disabled Children's NSF Standard (8)' which provides further information

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs)

The role of the SENCO is crucial for early years settings in supporting early identification and intervention for children with special educational needs. The SENCO is responsible for maintaining a setting's recording and documentation process with respect to special educational needs, liaising and working with the parents, securing training for workers and liaising with outside agencies with respect to a child's SEN.

Area Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (Area-SENCOs)

Area SENCOs are employed by local authorities and are responsible for supporting approximately 20 non-maintained settings within their district. The aim of the area SENCO is to support the work of the setting based SENCO and promote inclusion in Early Years Settings, reduce the underachievement gap and enable all children to reach their full potential

The Sure Start, Extended Schools and Childcare Group has produced guidance for Local Authorities and Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships on the role of Area-SENCOs. The document is available to download here.

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