Professionals general information

General information for professionals working with children and young people with SEND

This page is for professionals working with children/ young people with SEND or additional needs. Parents are welcome to look through. 

Bath and North East Somerset Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership (BCSSP) have lots of safeguarding resources for professionals working with children, have a look under the I am a Professional section. 

Specific pages for SEND professionals

*Please note the above two sections are password protected, you will need to register to gain access.

Short Breaks for Disabled Children (and those with SEND)

For details of all the Short Breaks offered to children/young people in B&NES who are disabled or have a SEND see our dedicated Short Breaks page.

The lead organisation for Short Breaks term time and holiday commissioned services in B&NES is Bath Area Play Project, you can find the eligibility criteria for these Short Breaks on the Short Breaks page

Training for professionals working with Children and Young People

Have a look at the Children’s Workforce Training on the Learning Zone and The Hub for details of training for professionals working with children and young people in B&NES. 

Specific Documents for professional settings

Funding information

Disability Access Funding (DAF)

The Disability Access Fund (DAF) is for early years providers to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  The DAF aids access to early years places by, for example, supporting providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings, purchasing specialist equipment and/or seeking specialised training that would support providers to meet the child’s needs.  3 and 4 year olds will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria:

  • the child is in receipt of child disability living allowance (DLA) and;
  • the child receives their three year early years entitlement. 

For more information regarding the funding and how to request payment can be found on the DAF page

​30 hours funded childcare for some 3 & 4 year olds

If the child is receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and a parent/carer is receiving Carers Allowance for that child, the family may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare for that child. This funding can start the term after the child’s 3rd birthday, providing the parent/carer apply before the closing date. More information about this can be found here: www.bathnes.gov.uk/eye

Applying for the funding: To apply for the 30 hour funding using this criteria, the parent/carer will need to call Childcare Choices on 0300 123 4097

15 hours funded childcare for some 2 year olds

If the child has DLA and/ or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, then they are entitled to up to 15 hours a week (for 38 weeks a year) funded childcare at an Ofsted registered childcare provider with an inspection outcome of ‘Good‘ or ‘Outstanding‘.  Funding can start the term after their 2nd birthday.

Applying for the funding: To apply for the 2 year funding for a child who received DLA, the parent/carer will need to contact the Free School Meals team on 01225 394317.

Childcare Providers

You can find details of Ofsted registered childcare providers (Nursery, Childminder, Breakfast, Afterschool and Holiday Clubs) in Bath and North East Somerset on the Children and Families section of the website.  

Children's Centres

Bright Start Children's Centre Portage

Bright Start Children's Centre Portage is a 10-12 week home-based educational programme supporting parents with children (0 – 5 years) with Special educational Needs and or Disabilities (SEND) to further develop their play, communication, relationships, and learning.
We offer one to one support in a parent/carers home with one of our Portage-trained Outreach Workers.

This includes:

  • Developing suitable play activities that they can continue to use with their child in the home;
  • Setting small, achievable targets for their child specific to their individual needs;
  • Working alongside an assessment tool to monitor the child’s progress and achievements;
  • Signposting parent/carers to other services available.

The child’s learning and development is captured through a ‘Learning through Play’ Diary and ACE (Accounting for Lifelong Learning) Toolkit, which focuses on each child's strengths.

Working with other professionals to ensure a joined up approach for parent/carers and their child.

To find out more about Portage Home Learning visit or contact your local Bright Start Children's Centre:
 

Bath Children and Family Centre

12 Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2NE

Telephone: 01225 396662

Radstock Hub

Hope House Centre, 10 Waterloo Road, Radstock BA3 3EP

Telephone: 01225 396660

Keynsham Hub

65 West View Road, Keynsham BS31 2UE

Telephone: 01225 395400

Email: brightstartcc@bathnes.gov.uk
www.facebook.com/BrightStartChildrensCentres/

Alternatively visit our website; www.bathnes.gov.uk/childrens-centres to download a 'Request for Support' form.

SEND strategies and Policies

SEND Education Strategy 2018-2021

Please see below our B&NES SEND Education Strategy 2018-2021, outlining our priorities for SEND in the local area over the next three years. We also have an easy read parent carer version