SEND

SUPPORTING ‘SEND’ IN EARLY YEARS: PROACTIVE, INCLUSIVE PRACTICE AROUND NEURODIVERSITY, DISABILITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

A commitment to valuing and respecting the diversity of individuals, families and communities must sit at the heart of early years practice (Birth to 5 Matters, 2021) Bristol Early Years are committed to addressing diversity and inclusion in a meaningful, constructive and holistic way. Children in their earliest years are learning about who they are and the world around them.

The draft Bristol SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028 sets Bristol’s priorities for the next four years and how we are going to deliver them. All of our priorities are based on a good understanding of what we are doing well and what we know needs to improve. Some of the things we are going to do are based on what children and young people with SEND and their parent carers have told us, and some are what we have to do because of the law.

The strategy links with other work we are doing in Bristol:

  • Our Belonging Strategy describes our approach to making sure all children grow up in a city where they feel at home, where they feel they belong, and where they and their families can thrive.
  • Our Integrated Care System Strategy focuses on improving the lives of neurodivergent children as well as those with with mental health needs and learning disabilities.
  • Our Corporate Parenting Strategy describes how we support children in care and care leavers to reach their full potential.

There are six priority areas that inform our work in early years to ensure that all young children in Bristol have the best start in life, regardless of their developmental differences:

1. Understanding needs.
2. Listening to families.
3. Right help at the right time.
4. Inclusive Educational Provision.
5. Preparing for the future.
6. Feeling safe and included.

This part of our website aims to bring together useful guidance and resources on best practice and processes to support the early years sector in delivering proactive inclusion for all.

Contacts

Deborah Brown – (General Enquiries)

Dawn Butler – (General Enquiries)

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