How to access SEN Early Years Inclusion Service

How to get support for a child.

We support children with or without a Statement of Special Educational Needs.

If a child attends a nursery school or a nursery class attached to a primary school, support from our team usually occurs after a referral is made from an EA Educational Psychologist (EP).  Following a nursery consultation, the EP will make a referral to the Education Authority’s Early Years Hub. The Early Years Hub forwards referrals to the most appropriate support service for the child.

If a child attends a playgroup, or is in the year before their final pre-school year, support from our team occurs after a referral to the Early Years Hub by an EA Educational Psychologist via a health professional, usually a Community Paediatrician.

If you think your child has a learning need, you can talk to a number of professionals for advice including, medical or social care professionals, such as a health visitor, the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) in your child’s nursery, your child’s teacher, or staff in their pre-school setting. 

Can a parent or carer refer a child to this Service?

You cannot currently refer your child to SENEYIS. The Early Years Hub (EYH) is the single point of referral to our service. The referral must be made via an EA Educational Psychologist (EP).

If you have a concern about your child, this should be raised with their teacher or staff at your child’s pre-school setting, a healthcare professional such as a GP, health visitor, speech and language therapist or social worker. They will be able to provide advice and guidance on the issue. 

How is a child referred to the SEN Early Years Inclusion Service?

The year before a child’s final Pre-School Year (2-3 years old)

Children can be referred to the Service from the year before their final pre-school year, up until the end of the second term of their final pre-school year. The Early Years Hub (EYH) is the single point of referral to our service. Referral through the EYH must be made via an EA Educational Psychologist (EP), who has received a referral and report from a Community Paediatrician. If a younger child has received an ‘underage’ place in a statutory nursery, the referral from the EP can be made via the nursery school/unit.

The EYH considers the information provided by the EP and makes an onward referral to the most appropriate pupil support service.  A referral will be made to SENEYIS if the child has clearly identified learning needs. The EYH will notify parents or carers by letter or email if their child has been referred to SENEYIS.

Children in their final Pre-School Year (3-4 years old)

The Early Years Hub (EYH) is the single point of referral to our service.

If your child has identified special educational needs and disability (SEND), and attends a statutory nursery school, or nursery unit attached to a primary school, a referral to the EYH must be made via an EA Educational Psychologist (EP) following consultation with nursery staff.

If your child has an identified SEND and attends a non-statutory pre-school or playgroup, a referral to the EYH must be made via an EA Educational Psychologist (EP) who has received a referral and report from a Community Paediatrician.

The EYH considers the information provided by the EP and makes an onward referral to the most appropriate pupil support service.  A referral will be made to SENEYIS if the child has clearly identified learning needs. The EYH will notify parents or carers by letter or email if their child has been referred to SENEYIS.

If your child does not have an identified SEND and you have a concern in relation to their learning, you may wish to contact your child’s pre-school setting to discuss their needs further.

Parents / carers or pre-school setting staff can talk to a number of professionals for advice including, medical or social care professionals. They can also phone the Education Authority (EA) SEND Helpdesk for general advice on 028 9598 5960.

For more details on to how to access support from the Service see our Making a Referral and Timeline and Criteria information. 

What happens following a referral to the SEN Early Years Inclusion Service?

Once a referral is received, a member of the team will be allocated to your child. 

Our team member will telephone you to gather initial information about your child and discuss what early support is available. They will also collect information from the staff in your child’s pre-school setting. 

Once all the information is gathered, the most appropriate form of support to help meet your child’s current needs will be provided in collaboration with you and the pre-school setting. 

Level of support

For many children with SEND, their specific needs can be met within their early education setting or pre-school.

The support provided by our Service is based on the specific needs of each child. If support is required, we can provide resources, training and advice for parents/carers and pre-school setting staff.  In some cases, we will carry out a home and/or pre-school setting visit to observe your child, following which, recommendations will be made on how to meet your child’s needs.  In a small number of cases, direct support may be provided to your child.   

Support can be provided with or without a Statement of Special Educational Needs being in place.  

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Contact the SEN Early Years Service

The SEN Early Years Service can be contacted for advice and information specific to pre-school children who have, or may have, special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).