General Local Offer Response

What needs does your service or activity aim to meet for children and young people with SEND and their families?

We offer help to families who are unable to find suitable childcare themselves, particularly if they have a child with Special Educational Needs or a disability or complex medical needs, or have additional needs themselves. We can support with finding an Early Education Funded childcare place; or before school, after school or holiday childcare.

What outcomes does your service or activity aim to achieve for children and young people with SEND and their families?

Finding a childcare solution where children are happy and safe and the needs of the family are met. This could be with a childminder, Early Years provider, Out of School or Holiday Club.

How can children and young people with SEND and their families start to use your service or activity?

Please indicate if access to your service requires a referral and/or assessment of need and who will undertake this. Can families self-referral? Families and professionals can contact us directly and our service is free, although families will have to pay for the childcare we introduce them to unless it is an Early Education Funded Childcare place.

How do you communicate with children, young people with SEND and their families?

We can help find childcare providers able to meet children's individual needs.

What training have your staff and/or volunteers received to support children and young people with SEND and their families?

We have extensive experience working with families with disabled children and have accessed a range of inclusion training from a number of agencies. We can support childcare providers preparing for the inclusion of a child with SEND by signposting to relevant training, helping to prepare the childcare environment, and ensuring the involvement of appropriate support agencies.