Early Years Partnership Consultation Feedback

This consultation was carried out from May 2022 to September 2023. The consultation took place in Early Years settings, with childminders, schools, headteachers, parents, the public Health 0-19 Team, colleagues from health, early, children's social care and the Integrated Care Board.

What was the Consultation was about?

As a part of a wider Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) review in North Tyneside, we were asked to find out how children under 5 years old who have or may have special educational needs or disabilities, are identified and supported.

Parent/Carer Participation and Engagement

Some children under 5 were getting help, but we recognised that the support could be better. There were too many places to ask for help, so families had to tell their story more than once. Services weren’t always working well together, and they didn’t always share information with each other. Some children started Reception without the right support, and some were referred for extra help, too early.

Key themes or issues identified from Parent/Carers throughout the consultation.

We worked with parents, carers and professionals from education, health and social care as well as, other local authorities, to create a vision of what we wanted to achieve.

We wanted to create a joined-up system where services work together to support children under 5 with special educational needs. This includes having one clear way for families to ask for help, using a “Tell Us Once” approach, and sharing information through a single, easy to access system. A central hub would bring together key services like the Early Years Assessment Partnership, Family Hub, and Best Start in Life, with plans to develop an Assessment Nursery for children with more complex needs. Support would be available at different levels universal, targeted, and statutory so every child gets the right help at the right time. Our goal was to make sure no child starts Reception without their needs being recognised and supported, and that all early years settings and schools have well trained staff ready to support these children. At first, we thought we needed an assessment nursery but through this engagement we identified that we wanted a team of professionals to work in schools and Early Years settings to build staff confidence and expertise in order for them to support children with SEND.

Impact

North Tyneside Council invested £500,000 to create a new team called the Early Years Inclusion Service (EYIS). The EYIS has 11 Early Years skilled professionals who support children under 5 in their homes, nurseries, and schools.

As well as this, all the services that work with our youngest children in North Tyneside are now working together as the Early Years Partnership, so children and families get the right support, more easily.

Support from the Universal offer:

  • An Early Years Duty Helpline (new) 0191 643 3730 08:30-12:00 (daily)

Support from the Targeted offer:

Aims of the Early Years Partnership:

  • We know of every child under 5 who has or may have SEND in North Tyneside, thus ensuring that no child reaches Reception age without their needs being recognised and supported.

  • Ensure Early Years settings and schools continue to develop the expertise and confidence of their team in order to support children with SEND.

  • Every child is accepted and included into Early Years settings/schools.

  • High expectations will contribute to individual progress and outcomes for children with SEND.

  • Parents/carers will have a clear understanding of how their child’s needs will be/are being supported and have access to a key professional to support the family’s needs.

  • Children will be well prepared for the next phase in their educational journey.

This consultation was carried out from May 2022 to September 2023. The consultation took place in Early Years settings, with childminders, schools, headteachers, parents, the public Health 0-19 Team, colleagues from health, early, children's social care and the Integrated Care Board.

What was the Consultation was about?

As a part of a wider Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) review in North Tyneside, we were asked to find out how children under 5 years old who have or may have special educational needs or disabilities, are identified and supported.

Parent/Carer Participation and Engagement

Some children under 5 were getting help, but we recognised that the support could be better. There were too many places to ask for help, so families had to tell their story more than once. Services weren’t always working well together, and they didn’t always share information with each other. Some children started Reception without the right support, and some were referred for extra help, too early.

Key themes or issues identified from Parent/Carers throughout the consultation.

We worked with parents, carers and professionals from education, health and social care as well as, other local authorities, to create a vision of what we wanted to achieve.

We wanted to create a joined-up system where services work together to support children under 5 with special educational needs. This includes having one clear way for families to ask for help, using a “Tell Us Once” approach, and sharing information through a single, easy to access system. A central hub would bring together key services like the Early Years Assessment Partnership, Family Hub, and Best Start in Life, with plans to develop an Assessment Nursery for children with more complex needs. Support would be available at different levels universal, targeted, and statutory so every child gets the right help at the right time. Our goal was to make sure no child starts Reception without their needs being recognised and supported, and that all early years settings and schools have well trained staff ready to support these children. At first, we thought we needed an assessment nursery but through this engagement we identified that we wanted a team of professionals to work in schools and Early Years settings to build staff confidence and expertise in order for them to support children with SEND.

Impact

North Tyneside Council invested £500,000 to create a new team called the Early Years Inclusion Service (EYIS). The EYIS has 11 Early Years skilled professionals who support children under 5 in their homes, nurseries, and schools.

As well as this, all the services that work with our youngest children in North Tyneside are now working together as the Early Years Partnership, so children and families get the right support, more easily.

Support from the Universal offer:

  • An Early Years Duty Helpline (new) 0191 643 3730 08:30-12:00 (daily)

Support from the Targeted offer:

Aims of the Early Years Partnership:

  • We know of every child under 5 who has or may have SEND in North Tyneside, thus ensuring that no child reaches Reception age without their needs being recognised and supported.

  • Ensure Early Years settings and schools continue to develop the expertise and confidence of their team in order to support children with SEND.

  • Every child is accepted and included into Early Years settings/schools.

  • High expectations will contribute to individual progress and outcomes for children with SEND.

  • Parents/carers will have a clear understanding of how their child’s needs will be/are being supported and have access to a key professional to support the family’s needs.

  • Children will be well prepared for the next phase in their educational journey.