EYFS SEND Audit Tool

The EYFS SEND Audit has been designed as an introductory tool to encourage Early Years provisions to reflect on their current practice, environment, policies and procedures and use these reflections to make any required changes to support high quality inclusion for children with SEND in the provision.

As we continue to deliver the AET programme for Early Years and add the next module to our training package, we now recommend SENCOs and Leaders access the Autism Education Trust ‘The Early Years Standards Framework.’ This framework can be used by leaders to enhance and embed inclusive practice and improve outcomes for autistic children. The framework can be used by leaders to support settings to reflect, plan and implement improvement processes. Completion of the AET Early Years Standards Framework, supports leaders to meet the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021), the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice (2014), and their equality duties whilst complying with the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (2019)’

• EYFS SEND Audit Guidance Document
• EYFS SEND PVI's Audit Tool
• EYFS SEND School's Audit Tool

Autism in the Early Years

The Early Years Childcare and Business Development Service are excited to now be license holders to deliver the Autism Education Trust (AET) programme to the Early Years sector in Waltham Forest.

The AET is a DFE approved programme led by two national autism charities – the National Autistic Society (NAS) and Ambitious about Autism (AaA).

The Early Years AET programme is delivered in modules, beginning with ‘Making Sense of Autism’ and is suitable for ALL staff working with autistic children, including nursery practitioners, childminders, setting managers, teachers and support staff. Find out more here

Attendees undertaking any of the Early Years AET training will benefit from an increased awareness of Autism as a difference, not a deficit and how to value the strength that comes with embracing neurodiversity and partnership working.  The training modules will provide an introduction to autism and some of the reasonable adjustments that need to be considered when working with autistic children.

Training: The below courses will be running both virtually via Microsoft Teams and during face-to-face training sessions. Please book your place via the booking link below. 

Please click on the module titles to view the full content of each course.

Training Modules:

Early Years Making Sense of Autism training, to book a place on this training, please click here.

Early Years Good Autism Practice training, to book a place on this training, please click here.

For further information about the Autism Education Trust click here.

STEPS Assessment

• STEPS Assessment Guidance Document
• STEPS Assessment Webinar 
• STEPS Assessment Handbook
• STEPS Assessment Printable and Editable Document

New to Early Years SENCO

• New to Early Years SENCO Guidance Document
• New to Early Years SENCO Webinar

Supporting Language

• Identifying Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties guidance document
• Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties Guidance
• Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties Webinar

Behaviour Support

• Understanding and Supporting Behaviour guidance document
• ABC Chart
• Frequency chart
• Understanding and Supporting Behaviour Webinar
• How to Approach Behaviour Support - Guidance Document
• Example Behaviour Support Plan
• Blank Behaviour Support Plan

Support Plans

• Writing Effective Support plans document
• Example My Early Years Support Plan 
• Blank My Early Years Support Plan
• Blank Provision Map

Toilet Training

• Sensory Needs and Toileting
• Promoting Inclusion and Wellbeing for Children Not Yet Toilet Trained Guidance Document

SENDsuccess

This service supports pupils from Year One and up, with visual impairment and mobility needs; hearing impairment; autism, learning and cognitive disabilities. Within the SENDsuccess team there are experienced teachers with specialist qualifications in SEND.

Useful Documents

• Blank My Early Years Support Plan
• Blank Provision Map
• Blank Parent/Carer Consent Form for EYs Area SENCO/SEND Advisor Support
• How to complete a quality SACC referral guidance document
• Example completed SACC Questionnaire
• Blank Social and Communication Clinic Questionnaire 2022
• Blank Specialist Children's Health Service Referral Form
• EHC Assessment Request, Blue Form and Guidance
• Blank Annual Person-Centred Review of EHCP Template
• All About Me
• Supporting transitions for children with SEND 

Makaton Training 

We have an exciting opportunity for 11 Early Years provisions to take part in a five-week accredited Level 1 and 2 online Makaton training programme. This will now run from Tuesday 20 February 2024  to Tuesday 19 March 2024.  Closing date for booking forms will now be Thursday 1 February 2024. 

Places on this training are extremely limited and are being offered on a first-come-first serve-basis.  Please note, places are restricted to one participant per school / setting and for provisions who have NOT taken part in Makaton training previously arranged by Waltham Forest.

For more information, please see the flyer.  To book a place on the training, complete the Makaton Charity Booking Form, emailing it to the address on booking form and quoting ‘Waltham Forest Early Years.’

Waltham Forest Early Years, Childcare and Business Development Service will be contributing a one-off payment of £60 per school / setting* towards the cost of this training.  Once payment has been made, it is the Early Years Provision’s responsibility to send proof of payment to FEEEprovision@walthamforest.gov.uk to receive a one off £60 contribution towards the training.*

• Download the Online Makaton Training flyer
• Download the Makaton Charity Booking Form

* This one-off contribution is only for Early Years Provisions in receipt of FEEE and provisions who have NOT previously taken part in Makaton training arranged by Waltham Forest.

Sensory Processing

• Sensory Processing Guidance Document
• Sensory Learning Webinar

Early Identification and Intervention

• Early identification and intervention guidance
• Early Identification and Intervention Webinar

Visual Aids

• Visual Aids Guidance Document
• Visual Aids Webinar

Further CPD Resources

• A Celebrity Approach to Working with Children with SEND
• Nasen
• Place2Be - Parenting advice from child mental health experts. Practical tips to support children's wellbeing and manage beahaviour. 
• Worries and Anxieties of Fussy Eaters
• Top 5 Autism Tips: Managing Sensory Differences
• Top 5 Autism Tips: Supporting Pre-School Children
• Pre-School to Primary Transitions for Autistic Children
• Understanding and Managing Pica
• Challenging Behaviour Foundation
• Kinderly SEND Hub
• Help for Early Years Providers - Sensory Food Education