This is a guide to local support in Nottinghamshire for children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 3 years.
On this page
- Ways to use this guide
- Support from age 0 to 1 year
- Support from age 1 to 2 years
- Support from age 2 to 3 years
Ways to use this guide
This guide explains the SEND services available from education, health and care agencies to help you understand what is available across the system.
Watch a 6-minute video animation of the SEND map for age 0 to 3 years [YouTube] or continue reading for the full transcript.
You can also download the full interactive guide as a PDF where you can navigate through links and watch the animations.
Download the full interactive guide to local SEND support for age 0 to 25 years [PDF]
Support from age 0 to 1 year
Early support begins from conception and pregnancy.
The NHS hosts maternity services which involve the care you get from health professionals during pregnancy.
You can access this by contacting a midwife, GP or referring yourself directly to maternity services near you.
Generally, routine health checks take place from age 6 to 8 weeks, 9 months, and 1 and 2 years by the Healthy Family Team. They work with families to identify needs as early as possible. They offer support with emotional health and wellbeing.
Find out more at Healthy Family Teams (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
Other health focused support includes:
- The Family Nurse Partnership service who provide intensive, targeted support to first-time parents under the age of 19. Family Nurses have close links with the Healthy Family Team, Family Hubs and School Nursing services.
- Community Paediatricians who are specialist children’s doctors and nurses who have expertise in medical and developmental conditions- More on Community Paediatrics (Service directory)
- Neuro developmental assessment pathway information - More on the neurodevelopmental assessment (Nottinghamshire County Council)
- Community Children and Young People’s Service which is made up of a number of community nursing and health therapy services which support young people’s health needs, including disability - More on the Community Children and Young People's Service (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
Early Health Notification - Section 23
Shortly before or after a baby is born, a Red Book is shared. The Red Book is a document that monitors a child’s health and development during their early years.
From here, Section 23 is a notification into education support. This is a process where health services notify the County Council that a child has emerging or complex needs. This means professionals are working together to meet those needs.
This may be the first time a child might enter a school or an educational setting. They may come into contact with Early Years Services, and the SEND Inclusion Service (SIS), including the Teachers of the Deaf and Teachers of the Visually Impaired.
Ongoing health needs
A child may also be eligible for NHS Continuing Care Funding which is for children with the most severe and complex health needs. For more information, speak to your school SENCO.
People receiving this are also eligible for a personal health budget. This is to help manage your healthcare through equipment and personal care, in a way that suits you.
Find out more about a personal health budget (NHS)
Care-related support
For care-related support, visit your local family hub. They provide weekly activities and support programmes. This may include getting help from a Family Support Worker.
Find your nearest Family Hub (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Children's Social Care Support - SEND Local Offer
Children’s social care is the provision of social work, personal care, protection or social support services. You can find out about how needs are assessed and the services involved on the SEND Local Offer's social care support page.
Find out about the different levels of children's Social care support (SEND Local Offer)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
The Disability Living Allowance can support with the extra costs of looking after a child who may have a wide range of medical conditions including:
- behavioural
- mental health
- learning disabilities
- developmental delay.
This is later replaced by the Personal Independence Payment benefit at the age of 16.
Learn more about the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (GOV.UK)
Support from age 1 to 2 years
Around the age of 1 year is the first-time children might enter private, voluntary and independent (PVI) educational settings. This would be nurseries and childminders.
Tax free hours are available from this age and there is also an Early Years Inclusion Fund, which is additional funding that the PVI settings can access for children with SEND.
Find out more about Tax-Free Childcare (GOV.UK)
The Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and the SIS caseworker work as a team to offer parent training so that more support and information can be accessed.
If there are identified needs a referral might be made to the:
- community paediatrician
- Neurodevelopmental Support Team (NST) - Read more about the neurodevelopmental assessments (Nottinghamshire County Council)
The educational setting might be asked to fill out a referral form to identify a child or young person’s needs and make a plan of support.
The Physical Disability Specialist Services (PDSS) is responsible for providing specialist advisory support and may also be involved.
The Children’s Occupational Therapy Team are a statutory social care service that offers assessments, specialist equipment and adaptations. The service will also be involved in Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) processes.
Support from age 2 to 3 years
At age 2 years, there are opportunities for funded education and child-care hours and another developmental check.
Funded hours are available at different ages and at different amounts according to the child’s needs and family circumstances.
The GOV.UK website provides clear details on how to find out what you child can receive.
Check you're eligible for free childcare if you're working (GOV.UK)
From age 2 years onwards, there is an emphasis on getting ready for school. Teachers of the Deaf and visually impaired will run a specialist programme called readiness for school.
When a child is age 2 years 6 months old, they may be referred to the Speech, Language and Communication Needs service who offer support in short blocks around specific targets.
There is also an Early Years transition fund, which is additional funding to support the transition to school.
If there is a SIS teacher involved, there is another programme called ‘stepping up to school’ that continues to support with school readiness.