SEND Early Years Support Service (SEND EYSS)

What is home based support?

The Home Support service supports the child with their development and is based on the Portage Model. It is a friendly and supportive service for families with young children (from birth to under 5) who have additional needs. It is designed to help children learn and grow through play, communication, and everyday routines.

This service is usually delivered at home, if there is enough space to work safely, comfortably and without distractions. If we are unable to work within the home, we will arrange for sessions to take place at a children's centre instead.

A SEND Support Advisor will visit regularly to work with you and your child. Together we will set goals that matter to your family and build on your child’s strengths, existing and emerging skills, through Early Play activities. The sessions are child-led, meaning your child’s interests guide the activities, and you will be supported every step of the way.

Our aim is to support and guide parents, so that everyone living at the home feels confident continuing the activities/ strategies between visits, helping your child make developmental progress through everyday play and routines.

If your child is attending a childcare provider, home support is not available. Instead, support will be provided through the nursery by our Area SENDCo team whilst your child is within their setting. 

Parents and carers will still have access to the Advisory Teacher support line and parent training sessions to help you continue supporting your child’s development.

What do the home-based support team do?

• Home visits to explore your child’s needs, explain available services, and agree on a support plan together.
• Information, advice, guidance, and empowering parent/carers on the best ways to support your child’s development.
• Signposting to Parent training to help you build confidence, skills, and knowledge to communicate effectively with your child.
• Support between visits to help you continue activities at home and track your child’s progress.
• Small step teaching tasks designed to support your child’s learning during fortnightly visits.
• Help with recording achievements so you can see your child’s progress and build confidence.
• Ongoing assessment of your child’s needs, with targets set together to measure progress.
• Joint planning and modelling of learning activities to help you understand and support your child’s individual needs.
• Support with transitions into early years settings, including help with visiting and choosing the right place.
• Help communicating your child’s needs to professionals and addressing any concerns.
• Liaising with other services and agencies to make sure your child can access the right support.
• Coordination of services and multi-agency meetings for complex needs children to ensure everyone involved is working together.
• Invite to SEND Early Years Special Events if appropriate such as Park Walks and Stay and Play.

Groups (only available to children known to our Service)
Little Stars – monthly group for children with Downs Syndrome
Social Explorers – monthly group for children with social communication differences
Baby Makaton

Home Support leaflet available in downloads

Some families may benefit from extra support, such as joint meetings with professionals, shared assessments, and coordinated planning. Havering’s Multi-Agency Pathway for Children with complex needs brings together professionals from community health and education services to work with you and your child. The clinic follows the principles of Early Support and Portage, placing your child and family at the centre of all planning. You will have the opportunity to meet with the team involved in your child’s care, share information, and plan together to support their development. Paediatric appointments take place every 8–9 months, followed by a meeting to review progress. The aim is to make sure everything is in place for your child to take their next step into nursery, preschool, or school with confidence and the right support.

Please email SENDearlyyears@havering.gov.uk for the eligibility criteria and referral form.

Multi-agency leaflet availbale in downloads.

This pathway is not suitable children presenting with social communication and Autism

Area SENDCO’s provide advice and support to Early Years Providers to develop their inclusive practice and deliver improved outcomes for children with SEND. Providers include School-based nurseries, Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) providers and Childminders. Support is offered to;

• work closely with parents to identify children’s needs and discuss development
• work closely with the Nursery through caseload meetings.
• plan interventions to address SEN needs and review children’s progress
• provide guidance on SEN Support Plans and provision map development
• observations and consultations.
• contribute to the assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan  
• plan transitions using a person-centred approach which ensures that the child and family are at the centre of planning.
• Signpost to training opportunities.
• Involve the Assistant Educational Psychologist for support and advice on (SEMH) Social, emotional, and mental health.

Area SENDCO parent/carer and provider leaflet in downloads

Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF)
Early years settings can apply for SENIF or Complex Needs Funding for children with a high level of need. Settings can use funding in a variety of ways to support the child. This could include training for the staff, specialist equipment for the setting or additional staffing to allow for additional interventions. A fixed sum of funding is granted for a child on a pro rata basis according to the number of sessions he/she attends. This enables their access to all areas of learning within the setting.

Childcare providers can also access training and guidance from the Advisory Teacher team to help them better understand and support a child’s individual needs. This can be accessed through the Havering Education Portal or a request made to SEND Early Years for bespoke training at the setting 

Leaflets are available in the downloads

Our Advisory Teachers offer guidance to help parents and carers support their child’s development.

Training sessions and workshops, both online and face-to-face, covering topics such as communication and play, sensory circuits, using visuals, signing and symbols, introduction to Autism, EHCP process and learning strategies. 

Parent Advice Support Clinic- parents/ carers where can speak directly with a specialist for tailored advice and support.

Early Bird – Have you received an autism diagnosis; this programme is designed for families whose children are under 5. Learn more about autism and how you can support you child 

Monthly drop in for parent and carers of children with social communication and interaction difficulties – This monthly event is held at My Place on Thursday mornings 

Toilet training Workshop - see downloads for details 

For further information please email SENDearlyyears@havering.gov.uk , please provide your child’s name and date of birth.

Childcare providers can also access training and guidance from the Advisory Teacher team to help them better understand and support your child’s individual needs. This can be accessed through the Havering Education Portal or a request made to SEND Early Years for bespoke training at the setting 

The SEND Early Years Support Service for under 5’s operates an open referral system.

A child is considered if he/she

• lives in the London Borough of Havering
• Is under the age of 5

 Has difficulties with their cognitive development and at least one other area of need, to include:

• sensory and physical development
• social and emotional development
• language, communication, and interaction including self-help skills

Service referral form available in downloads