The SENCo Toolkit
A comprehensive toolkit with resources designed to support Early Years SENCo 's. It comprises various documents tailored to address different aspects of SEND provision and support to be able to effectively meet the diverse needs of early years children with SEND.
The Early Years Area SENCo Team
Promoting and supporting inclusive practice for young children with SEND (0-5) within B&NES Early Years settings and childminders.
B&NES Early Years Area SENCos are a small team of highly experienced teachers and practitioners who have extensive knowledge of working with and supporting young children (0-5) with SEND and their families.
We promote and support early identification of needs, effective, inclusive practice and creating enabling learning environments to over 180 early years providers within B&NES (group-based settings and childminders).
Our work includes:
• Providing guidance, advice and practical in- setting support about approaches to identification, assessment and intervention within the SEN Code of Practice (Graduated Approach)
• Providing day to day support for setting based SENCos in ensuring arrangements are in place to support children with SEND
• Developing and disseminating good practice
• Providing initial SENCo training and ongoing support in all EY settings through setting visits, workshops, targeted training and EY SENCo network meetings
• Embedding a strengths-based, whole setting approach for meeting the needs of children with SEND
• Liaising closely with EY SEND team and presenting cases for the Special Educational Needs Disability and Inclusion Panel (SENDIP)
• Working with and signposting to a wide range of other professional colleagues from within the Education, Health and Social Care sector
• Chairing and facilitating quarterly IPSEY (Integrated Planning in the Early Years) meetings to promote effective communication within these agencies, with particular regard to transitions to school
• Working in partnership with parent/carers through our visits to early years settings and multi-agency Team Around the Child Meetings and informing parents of the local impartial support service SEND Partnership Service
How can support be requested from the Early Years Area SENCo Team ?
If you would like to discuss a specific child, you MUST have parental consent to share information before this discussion can take place.
Settings can make a request for Area SENCo support by calling the Area SENCo advice line (Wednesdays 9-11.30am term time only) on 01225 396912 or by emailing area_sencos@bathnes.gov.uk.
Please note: Before submitting a request for Area SENCo involvement, SENCos must have contacted an Area SENCo, either via the advice line or email. When submitting documents please use Globalscape or Nextcloud where possible, or post to: Bath & North East Somerset Council, Early Years Area SENCo Team, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG.
Meet The Early Years Area SENCo Team
Bobbie Rogers, Area SENCo Advisory Teacher – Strategic Lead
Verrity Simons, Lead Area SENCo Advisory Practitioner
Alyce Day-Cook, Area SENCo Advisory Practitioner
Lizzie Young, Area SENCo Advisory Practitioner
Rebecca Wren, Area SENCo Advisory Practitioner
Samantha Hawkesford, Casual Area SENCo Advisory Practitioner
Specialist Autism Support Service (SASS)
SASS support professionals working with Autistic children and young people across B&NES, and those attending educations setting outside of B&NES but still reside within B&NES. You can find full information about their service by exploring the SASS introductory padlet.
Within this padlet you will find information about strategies to support young children on the Autistic Spectrum during the early years and beyond. This is also linked below.
Early Years SEND Inclusion Panel (SENDIP)
The Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disability Inclusion Panel (SENDIP) supports children in their early years by arranging and implementing a package of support for a child.
Last updated: 12 July 2024