Early Years Inclusion Service - Education North Tyneside

Early Years Partnership

High expectations will contribute to individual progress and outcomes for children with SEND.

The Partnership Aims

We know of every child under 5 who has or may have SEND in North Tyneside, thus ensuring that no child reaches Reception age without their needs being recognised and supported.
Ensure EY settings and schools continue to develop the expertise and confidence of their team in order to support children with SEND.
Every child is accepted and included into Early Years settings/schools.
High expectations will contribute to individual progress and outcomes for children with SEND.
Parents/carers will have a clear understanding of how their child's needs will be/are being supported and have access to a key professional to support the families needs.
Children will be well prepared for the next phase in their educational journey.

Training

Develop your confidence and expertise supporting children with SEND.

SEND Surgeries

An opportunity to discuss emerging needs or barriers to learning,

For staff working with pre-school children (not in their Reception year) that have not yet been ‘brought to the attention’ of the local authority through an Early Years Child Alert.

To book an appointment email EYIS@northtyneside.gov.uk or telephone 0191 643 3730.

SENDCo Network

Keep up to date with local and national SEND agendas

Early Years - Growing Brains, Guiding Behaviour

Course outline:

The course will include the following:

An overview of brain development in young children.
Adaptations you can make to your environment and routines in order to shape children’s interactions and positive behaviour.
Practical relational strategies to support adults to respond in a sensitive and appropriate way

A review of your school or setting behaviour & relationships policy to include relational approaches to behaviour.

Dates and times:

23.02.2026, 15:00 - 17:00 – BOOKING

Follow up session 20.04.2026, 15:00 - 17:00

Early Help Assessment Training

Course outline:

The training will:

Support EY practitioners and SENDCos to develop a clear understanding of Early Help Assessment and the part they must play in the process.
Discuss the pathway and systems involved in initiating an Early Help Assessment and leading Team Around the Family meetings.
Raise awareness of the importance of working in partnership with parents and carers.

Support EY practitioners to know when and how to seek advice and guidance from the Early Help Coordinators.

Dates and times:

10/11/2025, 1pm – 3pm – BOOKING

28/01/2026, 9am - 11am - BOOKING

15/6/26, 6.15pm -7.45pm (Online session) - BOOKING

Early Years - Inside the Sensory World: Environments That Help Children Thrive

Course outline:

This training will:

Offer ideas for reasonable adjustments and adaptations that may support children with SEND.
Explore the use of visual supports using pictures and symbols.
Examine daily routines and consider adaptations and changes to improve engagement from children with SEND.

EY practitioners will learn how to:

Recognise sensory interactions and understand what children may be communicating.
Develop their understanding of how to adapt environment to increase engagement and reduce sensory overload.
Use sensory-friendly tools and routines to support co-regulation and improved learning outcomes

Dates and times:

Session 1: Tuesday 21.4.2025 13:00-15:00

Session 2: Thursday 02.07.2025 13:00-15:00

BOOKING FOR BOTH SESSIONS

Session 1: Tuesday 21.4.2025 15.30-17.30

Session 2: Thursday 02.07.2025 15:30-17:30

BOOKING FOR BOTH SESSIONS

Mastering the Graduated Approach in Early Years

Course outline:

This training will help SENDCo’s, and EY practitioners to:

Navigate their way round the Graduated Approach in North Tyneside.
Develop their knowledge of the universal, targeted, and the statutory offers available for children with SEND.
Engage in the assess, plan, do, review cycles.
Know and understand how to evaluate the impact and outcomes of strategies and interventions.
Understand the importance of reporting and recording processes.

Recognise when to apply for additional support and resources.

Dates and times:

24.09.2025, 09:00 – 10:30 – BOOKING

24.09.2025, 18:00 – 19:30 (Virtual) – BOOKING

Support and Guidance around the Education Health and Care Needs Assessment Process

Course outline:

This training will help SENDCo’s and practitioners develop and understanding of:

The universal, targeted, and the statutory offer in North Tyneside.
The Education Health and Care Needs Assessment processes.
How to make a request for Education Health and Care Needs Assessment.
Payment Systems.

Network meeting and review processes.

Dates and times:

21.01.2025, 09:00 -11:30 – BOOKING

27.04.2025, 09:00 -11:30 – BOOKING

EY SENDCo Network – The Launch of the Occupational Therapy Toolkit

Course outline:

This session will be the launch the new Occupational Therapy Toolkit, designed to support practitioners and families in developing children’s functional skills.

Dates and times:

05.11.2025,18:00-19:30 (Virtual) - BOOKING

06.11.1015, 13:00-15:00 - BOOKING

06.11.1015, 15:30-17:00 - BOOKING

EY SENDCo Network – Transitions

Course outline:

EY Practitioners will improve their understanding and develop knowledge and insight into factors that can contribute to a successful transition.

Continuous Process: Emphasises that transition is an ongoing process, not a single event.
Belonging: Recognises the significance of crating a sense of belonging for young children during transitions.
Continuity from home: Highlight the importance of maintaining continuity between home and early years settings
Key Adults: Acknowledge the role of key adults in supporting successful transitions.
Professional Dialogue: Encourages practitioners to engage in professional dialogue to enhance transition experiences.

Dates and times:

10.03.2026 - 18:00 – 19:30 (Virtual) – BOOKING

11.03.2026 - 13:00 – 15:00 – BOOKING

11.03.2026 - 15:30-17:00 – BOOKING

New or Aspiring Early Years SENDCo Training

Course outline:

This training is for New or Aspiring SENDCo’s in Early Years. There are 6 sessions across 2025/2026 (half termly) with an expectation if you sign up that you attend all the sessions.

The focus of the New or Aspiring EY SENDCo training will aim to develop the new or aspiring SENDCos knowledge and understanding of:

Early identification, target setting and the implementation of interventions.
Evaluating the impact and outcomes for children with SEND in Early Years.
Methods and processes used to support children, practitioners and families through graduated approach.

Dates and times:

07.10.2025, 13:00 -15:00 – Mastering the Graduated Approach

25.11.2025, 13:00 -15:00 – Target Setting

27.01.2026, 13:00 -15:00 – Inside the Sensory World, Environments that Help Children Thrive

17.03.2026, 13:00 -15:00 – Transitions

19.05.2026, 13:00 -15:00 – Growing Brains Guiding Behaviour

18.06.2026, 13:00 -15:00 – Integrated Working

BOOKING FOR ALL SESSIONS

Early Years SEND Reviewer Training

Course outline:

The Early Years SEND Reviewer training supports settings in identifying strengths and areas for development in inclusive SEND practice. This training is ideal for any EY SENDCo including school SENDCos working with older children who want to deepen their understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

For SENDCos in PVI settings, completion or ongoing study of the CACHE Level 3 SENDCo qualification is recommended before attending.

Dates and times:

Session 1: 2.10.25, 09:00- 11:30

Week beginning 13.10.25 (Virtual) - EY practitioners/teachers will arrange a 1:1 one hour session with either the EYIS manager or EP, to develop the first action plan.

Session 2: 29.1.26, 09:00-11:30

Week beginning 15.1.26 - (Virtual) EY practitioners/teachers will arrange a 1:1 one hour session with either the EYIS manger or EP, to evaluate the impact of the actions from the first action plan and develop a second action plan.

Session 3: 2.4.26, 09:00-11:30

Week beginning 20.4.26 - (Virtual) EY practitioners/teachers will arrange a 1:1 one hour session with either the EYIS Manager or EP to evaluate the impact of the actions from the second action plan and develop a third action plan.

Between April and the end of June 2026 participants will:

be allocated a peer setting to review.
review your partners action plan (2 x 1 hour - Virtual)
arrange a visit to their partner setting to carry out a SEND review in each other’s setting (½ day will be required for each setting)

Showcase event: 25.6.26, 13:00-16:30

Please note: This session will be a slightly longer session to showcase the portfolios and impact of the training.

BOOKING FOR ALL SESSIONS

Early Communication Strategies (Early Years)

Course outline:

This session focuses on engaging children who are pre-verbal and may struggle to demonstrate joint or shared attention with adults during activities or interactions.

Aimed at early years staff, the session introduces a range of strategies and activities designed to build the foundations of communication through connection, interaction, and play.

Participants will explore ways to encourage engagement, foster shared attention, and support the development of early communication skills in young children with language and communication needs, including those with autistic characteristics.

Dates and times:

22/01/2026 15:30 - 16:30 – BOOKING

14/05/2026 15:30 - 16:30 – BOOKING

Thinking about Gestalt Language Learners

Course outline:

Do you work with a child who frequently repeats questions or uses chunks of language? Are you curious about echolalia and how it fits into language development?

This session is designed to open up dialogue and deepen understanding of Gestalt Language Processing, a different but valid way some children learn to communicate. Through discussion, shared experiences, and practical strategies, this training will help you recognise the signs of gestalt language learning and explore how to support these children effectively in your setting.

Dates and times:

01/04/2026 15:30 - 16:30 – BOOKING

Picture This! Empowering Learners Through Visual Supports

Course outline:

Have you been asked to use visuals in your setting but aren’t sure where to start? Wondering what to use, when to use it, and how it can help children struggling with communication?

This training session is designed to answer those questions. Aimed at early years staff in schools and private or voluntary settings, it introduces practical strategies and resources to support children with speech, language, and communication needs, particularly those who benefit from visual aids.

Participants will explore how visual supports can reduce anxiety, improve understanding, and promote independence in the nursery environment.

Dates and times:

20/10/2025 14:00 - 16:00 – BOOKING

01/06/2026 14:00 - 16:00 – BOOKING

Early Years Language & Play

Course outline:

This session explores the powerful connection between play, language, and vocabulary development in the early years.

Aimed at staff working in schools and private or voluntary settings, the session provides insight into how different types of play, including neurodivergent play patterns contribute to children's communication and understanding.

Participants will gain a deeper awareness of how play supports the foundations of language learning and how to use play based approaches to encourage vocabulary growth and meaningful interaction.

Dates and times:

10/06/2026 15:30 - 16:30 – BOOKING

Early Years Vocabulary

Course outline:

Aimed at early years staff, the workshop focuses on selecting meaningful vocabulary and using effective strategies to teach new words, especially to children who find it difficult to retain them.

It explores how vocabulary underpins children's ability to communicate, make sense of their environment, and build the foundations for future learning. This includes recognising the link between word knowledge, comprehension, and broader cognitive development in the early years.

Participants will learn how to identify key vocabulary for their setting, explore practical ways to embed word learning into everyday routines, and discover techniques to support children with language and communication needs.

Dates and times:

14/10/2025 15:30 - 16:30 – BOOKING

03/06/2026 15:30 - 16:30 – BOOKING

Language and Communication Team - Drop in Surgery

Course outline:

These informal sessions provide an opportunity to explore resources and strategies that support children with language and communication needs, including autistic pupils.

Staff can ask questions, seek tailored advice, and engage with tools commonly recommended by the team.

Whether you're looking for new ideas or simply want to refresh your approach, these sessions are designed to be flexible, supportive, and relevant to your everyday practice.

Dates and times:

25/02/2026 14:00 - 17:00 – BOOKING

Autism in the Early Years

Course outline:

Exploring the implications of Autism for learning and development in young children.

Designed for early years staff across schools and private or voluntary settings, the session offers informed strategies and resources to support inclusive practice.

Whether you're new to working with Autistic children or supporting those with similar characteristics, this training will help you build confidence, deepen your understanding, and apply practical approaches in your everyday work.