Supporting Children with SEND in Early Years
send support
Every child is unique and develops in their own way. In early years settings, there is a growing number of children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), with increasing needs across communication, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and social development.
Many practitioners and parents are working hard to meet these needs, often alongside a recognised lack of training, time and accessible resources. This can make it challenging to provide consistent, effective support that helps every child feel understood, included and able to succeed.
Some children may need additional support to help them communicate, regulate emotions, build relationships, or access learning experiences. Early identification and intervention are key to supporting development and ensuring children receive the right support at the right time.
Our SEND support early years resources have been carefully created to bridge this gap. They provide practical, easy-to-use tools and strategies that support inclusive practice across a wide range of needs, including autism, ADHD, , dyslexia, speech and language, sensory processing, behaviour, trauma and emotional wellbeing.
Designed for both early years practitioners and parents, these resources help create nurturing, inclusive environments where children feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. They support adults to respond with confidence, build strong relationships, and meet each child’s individual needs through consistent, developmentally appropriate approaches.
What we offer
In this section, you will find a wide range of practical tools and resources to support effective SEND practice in early years settings and at home. Each resource has been carefully designed to help practitioners and parents meet children’s individual needs with confidence and clarity.
Our SEND resources include:
- SEND policies and documentation to support clear procedures, consistency, and inclusive practice across your setting. These help ensure you meet requirements while creating a strong foundation for supporting children with additional needs.
- IEP targets and planning tools to support personalised learning, track progress, and set meaningful next steps. These tools help you plan effectively and ensure support is purposeful and consistent.
- Communication and language supports to help children develop understanding, express themselves, and build confidence in interactions. These are particularly valuable for children with speech, language, and communication needs or those learning English as an additional language.
- Autism and sensory resources to support children’s sensory needs, engagement, and regulation. These resources help create calm, structured environments where children feel safe and able to access learning.
- Emotional regulation strategies to support children in understanding and managing their feelings. These tools promote co-regulation, build resilience, and help children develop positive relationships.
All resources are practical, easy to use, and designed to support inclusive early years environments where every child can feel valued, supported and reach their full potential.
Our Resources
These resources are designed to support both practitioners and parents in meeting the individual needs of children, while promoting confidence, independence, and overall wellbeing. They provide practical, easy-to-use strategies that can be applied consistently across early years settings and at home, helping children feel secure and supported in their daily experiences.
By using clear approaches, structured support, and nurturing interactions, adults can help children build essential skills, develop positive relationships, and engage more fully in learning. This consistent support is especially important for children with SEND, who may benefit from additional guidance to access their environment and reach key developmental milestones.
Working in partnership with families and professionals is key to providing effective support. When practitioners and parents share knowledge, strategies, and understanding, children experience greater consistency and feel more confident navigating their world.
Together, we can create inclusive environments where every child feels valued, understood, and supported to reach their full potential.
