Bath and North East Somerset Community Safety and Safeguarding Partnership (BCSSP) have lots of safeguarding resources for professionals working with children.
- Inclusion and SEND Support Offer information
- Educational Psychology Service (EPS) information
- Early Years SENCo information*
- School SENCo information*
- Guidance on Section 23 - Identifying children and young people with SEND
*Please note the above two sections are password protected, you will need to register to gain access.
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.
BAPP Holiday Playschemes are inclusive holiday opportunities for young people with SEND and their families.
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.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Bath and North East Somerset CAMHS is a specialist service that helps children and young people who are struggling with their mental health. The CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST) works directly with schools and can support schools with their ‘whole school approach’ to mental health which includes, but is not limited to, staff workshops and training, school assemblies, group work with young people, parent sessions and social prescribing. Contact the team via the BaNES & Wiltshire Single Point of Access (SPA).
B&NES Public Health Programme
The Early Years Public Health Programme supports settings to ensure that their provision for 0-5 year-olds promotes children's good health, including mental health.
Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Whole School Approach offers a wide variety of B&NES and national documents, websites and other links related to the support and delivery of positive mental health and wellbeing in schools.
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. Children from the age of 9 months, 2, 3 and 4 year olds will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria from September 2025:
- the child is in receipt of child disability living allowance (DLA) and;
- the child receives free early education.
Note: 4 year olds in primary school reception classes are NOT eligible for DAF funding. Children become eligible for free early education at different points in the year depending on when they turn a particular age and meet certain eligibility criteria.
For more information regarding the funding and how to request payment can be found on the DAF page.
Inclusion Support Funding & Transition Support Funding
Find out about the Early Years SEND Inclusion Panel (SENDIP) and Early Years Inclusion Support Funding / Transition Support Funding.
Early Years Childcare Funding
Find out more about funded childcare early years entitlement on our Childcare Costs pages.
Benefits and Funding
Support parent carers by signposting to information about benefits and funding they may be able to access.
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.
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. Offering one to one support in a parent/carers home with one of the Children's Centres 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.
To find out more about Children's Centres visit or contact one of the local Bright Start Children's Centres. You can also find out more and request Portage and other support services.
Our Plan for SEND
Due for release January 2026, please check back here.
Self Evaluation Framework (SEF) for SEND & AP
B&NES Local Area Self Evaluation Framework (SEF) for children and young people with SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) (August 2025)
Local First Framework
West of England Local First Framework
B&NES Local First 2023/24 - Parent Carer guide
Downloadable versions:
Last updated: 10 December 2025