A training programme that helps early years professionals improve support for SEND children has been given a major boost. Sian Marsh provides the details.
The Department for Education’s 2024 childcare and early years providers survey provided a picture of SEND that was not unexpected.
The survey found that the proportion of providers looking after at least one child with SEND has increased since 2018, with 85% of school-based providers, 88% of group-based providers and a quarter (25%) of childminders looking after at least one child with SEND.
The findings echo the rises in SEND across all phases and underline the need for greater support and training for early years providers.
How Supporting Education Group can help
These early years providers received an important boost in May when the DfE announced that Supporting Education Group’s Best Practice Network was to deliver another 1,000 DfE funded Early Years SENCo training places. This began in June.
The programme will lead to a Level 3 early years SENCo qualification.
The Impact
BPN has already delivered more than 5,000 completed training places since 2022, and from our evaluations as well as satisfying a hunger for training and development, the programme is also making a significant difference to what these providers can offer their SEND pupils.
An evaluation of recent participants on Best Practice Network’s Level 3 Early Years SENCO training programme showed that 99% believed the training had had a positive impact on their confidence, with 80% of setting managers saying that it had improved SEND outcomes in their settings.
What participants had to say
The comments we received from participants give a flavour of the programme’s impact.
One participant commented: “I have a fuller understanding of supporting SEN and how to get the right support in place with the family.”
Another told us: “I previously had no real experience or confidence that I can support children and families with SEND and the processes involved. I have been able to help a family support their child and get support from outside agencies during the course, along with improving my documentation of the graduated approach and interventions.”
As well as building skills and knowledge among participants, the programme is also helping them to develop greater professional self-confidence. A childminder on the programme applied to the local authority for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for a little boy with an undiagnosed syndrome. This was initially issued, but the childminder was then told that the funding could only be used through a nursery setting. She asked our programme team for advice who urged her to appeal, leading to a reversal of the decision. “I couldn’t have done it without your team and the confidence the course has given me,” she told us.
Who can apply
Training is available across England and is open to applicants working as an EY SENCo or those due to take up the role. Applicants from group-based private, voluntary or independent (PVI) settings must hold a full and relevant level 3 EY qualification.
Childminder applicants must hold either a full and relevant EY level 3 qualification or have a level 2 EY qualification but have fully completed at least one level 3 EY training module and have significant experience of working in EY.
The programme will offer a rich mix of online facilitated training, mentoring, online study and enrichment, including a group discussion forum and communities of good practice. Participants build up an e-portfolio of learning for final assessment.
As we welcome our new participants, our aims remain the same: to help early years professionals of all types develop the skills they need to support SEND children as effectively as they possibly can.
Sian Marsh is Director, Early Years and ITT at Best Practice Network.
Find out more about the programme and how to register interest.