Support for pre school children

Special Educational Needs Coordinator

The Special Educational Needs Coordinator may suggest getting help and advice from another professional.

This could be from:

• A GP
• A  Health Visitor
• A Paediatrician
• A  Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
• An Occupational Therapist (OT)
• Family workers
• The  Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
• The  Wokingham Early Years and Childcare Team

Early Years Inclusion Advisor (EYIA)

The SENCo might also request support from the Early Years Inclusion Advisor (EYIA). They provide extra advice and support to pre schools and nurseries. 

They will visit the pre school or nursery, and observe the child and the support they are currently getting. 

They'll talk with staff and parents to make recommendations for more help and support.

Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment

If a child needs more support than is in the Individual Education Plan, then the parents, pre school or nursery can ask us to carry out an Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment.

Find out more

Find out more by reading:

• Funding to support Learners who have Special Educational Needs (PDF document)
• SEN Support: what Wokingham expects can be reasonably provided by early years settings from the funding available to them (PDF document)

A childminder can request support from the  Early Years Inclusion Advisor (EYIA) service. 

The service provides advice and support regarding children’s additional needs to childminders, in collaboration with parents. 

Childminder who: 

• Offer the early years free entitlement and
• Care for a child who lives in the Wokingham Borough

Can contact the service for support if they have parental permission. Where appropriate the advisor may visit the childminder’s home to both observe and discuss the needs of the child. 

Following the visit parents will be invited to meet with the Early Years Inclusion Advisor to: 

• Receive feedback from the observation
  
• Get advice and support
• Discuss next steps for their child  

Childminders who:

• Do not offer the early years free entitlement, or   
  
• Care for a child not living in the Wokingham Borough

Can request support with parental permission via the telephone consultation service. 

How to request support

Childminders can request access to these services by completing the request for EYIA involvement document on the Early Years Hub website.

The Early Years Inclusion Teachers visit your home and work with you and your family. This is referred to as a portage service. 

Your child needs to be referred to the service through a healthcare professional or the  Early Years Inclusion Advisor.

Early years support panel

Meets to discuss which services children need to help them. Read the Early years support panel (PDF document) to find out more.

Dingley Early Years Centres

Dingley provides a support service to under 5’s with additional needs & disabilities and their families. 

Visit the  Dingley website to find out more.

Support from the NHS

The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides services to children under 5. This includes:

• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Support with diet and nutrition for children who aren't able to eat enough nutrients orally and might require help by feeding through a tube

Visit the healthcare services and support web section for information and advice for children with additional needs.

Find local support

Go to our Local Offer web page for information on the services in the Wokingham Borough that are available for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.

Independent advice for parents

You can get independent advice from the:

• Special educational needs and disability information advice and support service (SENDIASS)
• Independent Parental Special Educational Advice (IPSEA) website

To find out about your options, find nurseries and how to apply, visit the starting nursery or pre school web page.