Nurseries and early years providers in Gateshead must have arrangements in place in order to identify as early as possible if a child has additional needs and to provide relevant support for them using the setting’s resources. You can ask a nursery/early years provider to provide you with information about how they do this or look for it on their website.
In Gateshead, two SENCO’s support all early years settings (local, private, voluntary and independent sector, childminders, maintained nurseries and schools) in order to identify SEN and to recommend suitable interventions for children. If a child is not making the expected progress, despite support and intervention being provided from the setting using a graduated approach, the child may be referred to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) panel. If deemed appropriate, support can then be provided by Gateshead’s Early Years Assessment and Intervention Team (EYAIT). Children with more complex developmental needs may also be signposted to appropriate services at this stage. The EYAIT is a commissioned service, funded by Gateshead Council from the High Needs Funding Block and is made up of specialist teachers, Portage workers, teaching assistants. This team offers assessment, intervention, support and review for children who are experiencing significant barriers to their development and learning and for whom specialist intervention is needed. They also support staff working in early years settings by offering advice and modelling appropriate strategies with children.
If, following input from the EYAIT, it is felt that a more detailed assessment is needed, then a child may be referred to the Educational Psychology Service and a request for an EHCP Assessment may then be made.
Gateshead Early Years Assessment and Intervention Team
Gateshead Council commissions the Early Years Assessment and Intervention Team (EYAIT) to work in partnership with parents/carers, childminders, nurseries and pre-schools to assess children aged 0-4 years who are facing significant barriers to their development and learning and provide appropriate intervention and support. The team consists of a manager, three Specialist teachers, two Portage workers and seven Teaching Assistants. The staff in the team are all skilled and experienced in working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and work with children with a variety of needs e.g. Autism Spectrum Condition, Cerebral Palsy, general developmental delay, with or without a diagnosis.
The Early Years Assessment and Intervention Team:
- offer assessment, targeted intervention, advice, coaching and modelling sessions for children from 0-4 who are experiencing significant barriers to their development and learning
- establish and develop partnerships with parents/carers in supporting children with SEN
- offer coordinated, holistic and multi-agency assessments, interventions and reviews
- develop effective strategies to enable children to access their education in an inclusive environment
- liaise with parents/carers and practitioners to develop appropriate action plans
- develop and support transition to the child’s next educational placement
- contribute to the EHC Plan process
- maintain data and carry out evaluations for the Local Authority
Referrals are made through the pre-school referral panel which has multi-agency representation, assesses referrals received and recommends outcomes.
1201b-JH-Early Years SEND Toolkit (Childminders – INTERACTIVE).pdf
For more information, contact:
Early Years Assessment and Intervention Team
0191 433 8724
christinabirkinshaw@gateshead.gov.uk