Early intervention before your child attends an early education setting

Your child may need support prior to attending any early education setting outside of your home. If they have a medical condition, they may be known to medical teams based in hospitals. They may be known to professionals in the community such as a paediatrician, community nurse or to speech and language therapy, physiotherapy or occupational therapy services. Some young children receive additional support from health visitors. Any of these professionals may offer direct support or provide you with advice around meeting your child’s needs.

Some children with medical, sensory, physical or complex SEND may require early educational support in their home or in locally delivered groups from specialist teaching teams, such as Portage, or The Sensory Inclusion Service. Babies and young children can be referred to these teams from birth, and referrals are often made by health and medical professionals already involved with your child. These teams will partner with you to plan and implement support for your child, and will also provide you with advice and support when the time's right for your child to begin attending an early education setting.

Young children with emerging needs may benefit from accessing local groups. Your health visitor/ therapy worker may signpost you to these groups so that your child can receive input around a particular aspect of their development, such as their speech and language development.

Any professional you meet before your child begins to attend a setting outside of their home will be able to tell you that there are many benefits for your child which come from attending an early education setting.