This webpage has been created to give Early Years Practitioners and Parents/Carers easy access to relevant information and resources to support young children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
It is part of a series of SEN Early Years Resources
Please click on the headings below for information and resources relevant to that subject area.
Hearing Impairment
Early Support Information on Deafness and Hearing Loss
Although the DfE Early Support Programme is no longer currently running, all the materials remain relevant and up to date, apart from a few of the links, and are now available through The Council for Disabled Children website.
Deaf Babies and Children Developmental Journal - Early Support
Assessment and monitoring tools for young babies and children with hearing impairment. Although the DfE Early Support Programme is no longer currently running, all the materials remain relevant and up to date, apart from a few of the links, and are now available through The Council for Disabled Children website.
Torbay Hearing support service
This service provides advice and guidance to families of hearing impaired children. Home visits are available for pre-school aged children. They also provide outreach support and training for nurseries and schools.
Supporting the achievement of hearing impaired children in early years settings
Please see this document in the downloads section on the right-hand side of this webpage
You may also find our Hearing Impairment Resources webpage useful, especially if you also have older children
Visual Impairment
Developmental Journal for babies and children with visual impairment
Assessment and monitoring tools for young babies and children with visual impairment. Although the DfE Early Support Programme is no longer currently running, all the materials remain relevant and up to date, apart from a few of the links, and are now available through The Council for Disabled Children website.
Torbay Council's Outreach Service for VI
This outreach service, commissioned from The WESC Foundation, has been developed to support the inclusion of pupils with visual impairments in all Torbay’s maintained early years settings and schools, including special schools and provisions.
ROVIC (Devon Integrated Children's Services) - Rehabilitation Officer for Visually Impaired Children
Sensory Support
Sense
Sense is a national charity that supports people who are deafblind, have sensory impairments or complex needs, to enjoy more independent lives.
This webpage provides Making Play inclucive materials and videos for both play settings and parents.
Making play inclusive (A toolkit for play settings)
Sensory Play
Please click on the image below or the Sensory Play booklet in the download section on the right hand side of this webpage to view printable booklet created the Torbay Early Years Advisory Teacher (EYAT) for Inclusion.
Exploring Sensory Profiles - Autism Education Trust
These sensory profiles help observing behaviour to identify sensitivities.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists assess functional ability and give advice on the best ways to carry out daily tasks. They also carry out treatment activities and recommend or provide equipment and adaptations if needed.
Children & Family Health Devon - Early Years Therapy Toolkit
Children & Family Health Devon’s Toolkit is appropriate for children aged 0 – 4. This toolkit has been designed to support families, carers and professionals who have concerns about a child’s development. It provides a greater understanding of development, when to be concerned and how to help and focuses on difficulties that fall within the expertise of Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. It includes advice sheets and videos.
Early Years Sensory Processing Profile
This resource pack will assist with the identification of possible difficulties and support the implementation of strategies.
Physical Disabilities
Early Support Materials - Disability specific booklets
Early Support Information guides on physical and sensory needs linked to specific conditions. Although the DfE Early Support Programme is no longer currently running, all the materials remain relevant and up to date, apart from a few of the links, and are now available through The Council for Disabled Children website:
Early Support information on Neurological Disorders
Early Support Information on Downs Syndrome
Early Support Information on Cerebral Palsy
Early Support Information on Multi-sensory Impairments
Sleep
Sleep support
Although the DfE Early Support Programme is no longer currently running, all the materials remain relevant and up to date, apart from a few of the links, and are now available through The Council for Disabled Children website.
Cerebra offer:
- One-to-one support through thier Sleep service: advice over the phone on your child’s specific sleep problem.
- Sleep information resources: sleep guide, cards and other resources are packed full of information and advice that could help you get a good night’s sleep.
Sleep guide
This document provides information about sleep, including a sleep diary, a suggested programme to follow and further resources to explore for yourself.
Cerebra - sleep tips booklet that covers
- Bedtime routine
- Calming time
- Moving bedtime forward
- Moving bedtime backwards
- Graduated extinction
- Graduated withdrawal
- Reducing naps
- Positive sleep associations
- Rewards
- Sleep environment
Stories about sleep to share with children
See www.pinterest.com/scopestories/sleepy-storybooks/ for ideas on stories to share with children about bed times and sleeping.
Scope - Sleep Dairy
Scope provide a downloadable pdf sleep diary template and tips for keeping a sleep diary.
Toileting
Paediatric Bladder and Bowel Care Service (PBBCS)
We follow guidance given from the Paediatric Bladder and Bowel Care Service Please see the leaflet in the downloads section on the right-hand side of this webpage.
Referrals to this service must be in collusion with your child’s health visitor.
ERIC The Children’s Bladder and Bowel Charity
ERIC is the only charity dedicated to the bowel and bladder health of all children and teenagers in the UK. They provide several useful resources including their 'Top 10 potty training tips' webpage.
ERIC’s guide to potty training
Eric’s guide for children with additional needs
Eric’s The Right to Go guidance
Toilet Training for Children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities - Cerebra
Please find a printable version of this toilet training poster (below) in the downloads section on the right hand side of this webpage.
Other useful Resources
Please see these documents in the downloads section on the right-hand side of this webpage:
Feeding Support
Feeding support
Information and Support for Mealtimes and food - Scope
This website provides a range of useful information and ideas including:
The Infant & Toddler Forum supports families to make healthier nutritional choices and promotes good eating habits in early life, for a healthy future for generations of children. They provide a range of resources to support healthy eating.
