1. Research Un-Locked Symposium 0-3 Research Project
Developing an Early Years (0-3) SEND Hub. Aiming to improve early intervention services for very young children with disabilities and their families. Generating family resilience and competence for their future.
Zoë Wells
Specialist Early Years Researcher

2. Local Information- Waltham Forest
Scoping;
Current Early Years universal and targeted provision
Family Services- support available to parents, carers and siblings
Health Provision
Gaps;
Lack of Early Intervention for Families with children 0-3
Access to specialist educational or play provision for children under 2 is very limited
Resourced educational provision not available until Reception age (5)
Limited universal services with SEND expertise or accessible activities

3. Regional and National Exploration
Learning from other research in this field
Advice from fellow Early Years Researchers
Investigate the impact of good quality early intervention
Collaboration with Newham Early Years and Longcause Special School in Plymouth
Literature Review

4. Evidence and Data Agencies Whitefield Academy Hospital
Hornbeam Academy
Early Years Teachers and Consultants
Early Years Area Sencos
Portage Home Visitors
Child Development Team
Disability Enablement Service
Haven House Hospice
Educational Psychologists
Early Help
Children and Family Centres
10 Parents
2 Focus Groups
4 Individual Interviews
Parent Survey

5. Themes from Parent Interviews
PARENT AND CHILD LED
SPECIALIST PLAY Somewhere to belong
Maximising Resources within the Academy
Home and Centre based provision
Training and Awareness
Professional Partnerships
Links - Early Years and SEND Agencies
Key Person
Empower

6. Positive findings for future model
Robust and sustainable evidence based provision that is family centered, local, accessible and fun
Early Intervention that improves the child’s well- being and development but also looks at the benefits of interventions and support for the whole family
Aspiration- Champion Centre in New Zealand- an excellent model of Early Intervention

7. Communication- Working Together
Because a child or family can experience a range of problems all at once, early intervention requires a holistic, multi-agency, multilevel, partnership approach.
For example, for a family with a very young disabled child early intervention may involve among others paediatricians, early years educators, health visitors and therapists.
It is important that the team around the family communicate and work together to get the full picture to be able to create the best support for their particular situation.
Therefore, a 0-3 SEND Early Intervention Hub will require leadership and practitioners with outstanding communication and information sharing abilities, preventing the continuing need for families to repeat their story.

8. 0-3 SEND Hub-Provision Proposal
Options
A partnership provision within local Children and Family Centres- delivered in the four neighbourhood hubs. Weekly parent and child focussed play and advisory sessions with multi-professional input.
A centre –based intervention. A programme empowering parents as the child’s first teachers. A weekly ‘carousel’ service with access to multiple personalised developmental interventions.
Other avenues to explore