SEND Early Years Service
The SEND Early Years Service support children aged 0 to 5 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These challenges may hinder their learning and inclusion.
Who we help
If universal and targeted strategies are in place but a child is not making progress, we can provide support. We support children with one or more of the following:
- Severe or profound learning difficulties affecting communication and independence.
- Significant developmental delays
- Significant physical delay or disability.
- Autism or social communication difficulties that impact on inclusion.
- Syndromes and neurological conditions with a lifelong impact on development.
- Severe speech, language, and communication difficulties due to the above.
We offer advice and training for behavioural difficulties that affect attendance. We also support children who have English as an Additional Language.
Support available before referral
Advice line
We operate a weekly advice line. This provides guidance and information to early years settings. We focus on the best support strategies. This includes universal and targeted support.
Phone: 01273 335270 (open Wednesday 10.00am to 1.00pm)
Inclusion support groups
Inclusion support groups are held three times a year. In these sessions we offer training on SEND-related topics.
We can also provide top tips and access to online training materials upon request.
Online training
We offer online training on various topics, including:
- Using visuals and creating a visual environment.
- Attention development.
- Autism.
- Early interaction.
Support available via referral
We tailor support to meet a child's needs and the requirements of the settings. We focus on building capacity within the Early Years Sector by:
- Assisting with accurate assessments and individual support planning.
- Modeling effective support strategies and interventions.
- Facilitating collaboration between providers, health professionals, parents, and carers.
- Supporting parents in transitioning their child into an Early Years Setting.
- Offering bespoke training packages.
- Making referrals to other services as needed.
- Providing funding and resources for enhanced learning and development.
- Supporting settings with statutory duties related to the SEND Code of Practice.
Refer to the Early Years Service
Early years settings, health professionals, parents, and carers can make referrals. They can do this through the Education Front Door.
We hold a regular meeting to consider referrals.
We may not accept a referral if:
- there is insufficient information
- the information provided suggests that there is a lack of universal or targeted support
- the information provided suggests the child's needs can be met without the need for specialist support
Early years settings
Refer children via the Education Front Door.
Health professionals, parents and carers
Use the Early Years Service referral form [141.7 KB] [docx]
Contact for queries
Email: sendeys@eastsussex.gov.uk
Related information
Was this page helpful?
Click or tap the rating which best represents your experience.
