The Early Years SEND (EYSEND) Team supports children under the age of 5 in Croydon who may have developmental delays, complex medical needs, disabilities, or communication and social interaction difficulties.

Our aim is to make sure that every child has the chance to thrive in their early years by working closely with families, early years settings (like nurseries and childminders), and health professionals.

The team provides:

• Support for families to better understand and respond to their child’s needs.
• Help for nurseries, pre-schools and childminders to create inclusive environments.
• Developmental assessments and personalised support plans.
• Advice on supporting communication, play and learning at home and in settings.
• Guidance on preparing for school and choosing the right setting.
• Support with requesting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) if needed.
• Workshops and training for parents, carers and early years staff.

We work in partnership with health professionals, family support services, and voluntary organisations to build a coordinated and personalised support package around each child.

We support:

• Children aged 0 to 5 who live in Croydon.
• Families who have concerns about their child’s development.
• Children who may not have a diagnosis yet, but are showing signs of needing extra help.

You do not need a formal diagnosis to receive support from the EYSEND team.

There are several ways to make a referral:

• Self-referral - parents and carers can contact the team directly.
• Referral from professionals - GPs, health visitors, early years settings, or other professionals involved in your child’s care can refer on your behalf.
• You can also speak to your child’s nursery SENCo, health visitor, GP, or visit your local children’s centre to discuss a referral.

To make a referral, you (or the professional supporting you) will need to complete an Early Help Referral via the online portal, visit link: Croydon MASH Referral Form

If you work in an early years setting and support a child with SEND, the EYSEND team can offer:

• Advice and strategies tailored to the child’s needs.
• Access to additional funding (SENIF) where appropriate.
• Support with transitions to primary school.
• Help completing referrals for further assessments or EHCPs.

If you’d like to speak to someone or have questions about how the service works, you can contact us:

• Email: EarlyYearsSENDTeam@croydon.gov.uk
  
• Phone: 020 8760 5787

Early Years SEND Support Offer - Early Years Settings

Request for Early Years SEND Team Support

Ordinarily Available Provision for early stages

Quality First Teaching Expectations for Early Years