SEND Resources 0 to 5

The following guide has been created specifically for parents and carers to explain what support should be expected for those with SEND, it is based on the Children and Families Act 2014 which you can find in the 'guidance for all' section, visit GOV.UK, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability): guide for parents and carers (opens new window)

This toolkit provides clear, simple key messages to promote positive health and wellbeing in its widest sense to support children in Wiltshire to have the Best Start in Life.

Best Start in Life Toolkit

For parent carers wanting to learn more about early years' autism information the guide below has been suggested by our Health Visitors and Early Years Inclusion Advisors as a helpful resource:

Ambitious about Autism: Parent toolkit (opens new window)

For information from Wiltshire Parent Carer Council about autism please visit:

Wiltshire Parent Carer Council: The Wiltshire Autism Information Pack (opens new window)

GOV.UK: DfE - 10 top tips for parents to support children to read (opens new window) 

The Dingley's Promise training programme is a free training resource for all Early Years Practitioners or parents to take part in. It is designed to upskill and empower Early Years Practitioners or parents to expand their knowledge and expertise in inclusion. The training content consists of ten courses over five years, with training available to start right away. All courses are provided on an online self-guided study basis and include practical activities and webinars. 

The first five courses are available now to take part in:

• Course 1 - Introduction to Inclusive Practice
• Course 2 - Transitions
• Course 3 - Managing behaviours that Challenge.
• Course 4 - Having Difficult Conversations with Families.
• Course 5 - The Voice of the Child

Where to sign up?

Dingley’s Promise: early years inclusion programme - Comic Relief (opens new window)

or if you would like to read more information please visit our dedicated Right Choice: Dingley's Promise (opens new window) page.

The project will be running until summer 2026 and the last courses for training should be released 2025/2026 as we are in year 3 of the project now.

For more information on Personal Budgets download ) to 25 Special Educational Needs and Disability Personal Budget Guidance (OpenDocument text format, 435 KB)(opens new window).

The following guide has been created specifically for early years settings to explain what support should be expected for those with SEND, it is based on the Children and Families Act 2014 which you can find in the 'guidance for all' section: 

GOV.UK, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND): guide for early years settings (opens new window)

The following legislation governs how education settings should approach the protected characteristics of the young people it deals with.

GOV.UK, Equality Act 2010: Education and Schools (opens new window)

This guide contains condensed information about SEND support that Wiltshire expects to be made available to all learners with additional needs.

Wiltshire Ordinarily Available Provision for All Learners (OPAL)

Right Choice offers a wide variety of support services to all education providers, including Schools, Academies, Further Education Colleges, Early Years Providers, Childcare Settings and Local Authorities.

We want to ensure that educational settings have access to high quality services and expertise that enables them to focus on delivering educational excellence to all children and young people. We are committed to making a difference to children and young people in Wiltshire and increasing educational attainment for all students.

To access services and set up an account visit 

Right Choice (opens new window)

Local Authority maintained nursery schools must set out publicly how it will provide for those using its provision who have additional needs. To read guidance prepared within Wiltshire on this topic visit: 

School Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Information

The audit has been produced to enable practitioners to look at their own practice and provision to identify where changes may need to be made and to ensure that positive behaviour is promoted. It can also be used as part of the evidence that is required by specialist agencies, to demonstrate the different strategies that have been used in order to support the needs of individual children.

Early Years Supporting Positive Behaviour Audit (PDF, 573 KB)(opens new window)

Early Years Transfer form for Children with additional needs (without 'My Support Plan') (OpenDocument text format, 32 KB)(opens new window)

The aim of the Early Years Inclusion Support Funding is to make a financial contribution towards assisting with the inclusion of children aged 0 to 5 who have a disability or difficulty that creates a barrier to their learning. Funding will apply to children attending settings within Wiltshire regardless of where they live. It is expected that before a request for funding is made that the setting will have carried out a graduated response to the child's needs; accessed and implemented support from the Early Years Inclusion Advisor (EYIA) and any other relevant professionals.

Early years Inclusion Support Funding Guidance (OpenDocument text format, 399 KB)(opens new window)

The Early Years Wiltshire Graduated Response to SEND Support (EYGRSS) has been written in response to the reforms described in the SEN and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years (January 2015).  It provides structures and guidance for Early Years setting SENCOs, EY Managers, teachers and practitioners to support them in putting in place appropriate arrangements to meet their obligations in respect to children with special educational needs and disabilities.  It consists of an EY Child profile that can be completed to aid the "assess, plan, do, review" graduated approach outlined in the SEND Code of Practice and an associated Guidance section.  The Wiltshire EYGRSS replaces the Wiltshire Indicators and Provision Document (WIPD). 

Early Years Graduated Response to SEND Support (EYGRSS) Guidance (Word doc, 144 KB)(opens new window)

Early Years Graduated Response to SEND Support (EYGRSS) Guidance - Child Profile 0-24 months (Word doc, 227 KB)(opens new window)

Early Years Graduated Response to SEND Support (EYGRSS) Guidance - 43-60 months (Word doc, 282 KB)(opens new window)

Early Years Graduated Response to SEND Support (EYGRSS) Guidance - Child Profile 25-42 months (Word doc, 271 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire Banding Thresholds - final (Word doc, 62 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire Banding Thresholds - Cognition and Learning (Word doc, 55 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire Banding Thresholds - Communication and Interaction and ASC (Word doc, 58 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire Banding Thresholds - Social Emotional and Mental Health (Word doc, 62 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire Banding Thresholds - Physical and Medical Needs (Word doc, 62 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire Banding Thresholds - Sensory Needs (Word doc, 58 KB)(opens new window)

SEN Support Plan Template (Word doc, 53 KB)(opens new window)

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) support plan template writing guidance for schools and early years settings: Send Support Plan Guidance (OpenDocument text format, 43 KB)(opens new window).

Use this tool to plan for improvement across a whole education setting. There are 7 sections: leadership of SEND; outcomes for pupils with SEND; assessment and Identification; quality first teaching; efficient use of resources; monitoring, tracking and evaluation; enrichment, transitions and partnership. This has been developed through co-production with partners across Wiltshire.

Wiltshire SEND Self Evaluation Form (SEF) (OpenDocument text format, 93 KB)(opens new window)

Teaching hubs provide a range of specialised expertise to support schools across a range of topics. In Wiltshire schools can utilise the following:

Ramsbury English Hub

Ramsbury DfE English Hub is based at Ramsbury Primary School, Wiltshire and provides support for infant, junior, primary and special schools across Wiltshire and surrounding areas.   

They provide fully funded school to school support which is centred on 3 priority areas:

• age-appropriate phonics provision: encouraging best practice in Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) teaching from Reception to the end of Key Stage 1, and as the primary teaching strategy throughout the school.

• promoting a love of reading: encouraging reading for enjoyment through a whole school reading approach; reading to every child at least once a day and encouraging reading at home; developing teachers' knowledge of children's texts and reading practices.

• early language development: providing evidence-based approaches to early language development and closing the word gap in school-based early years settings.

Their focus is on supporting the slowest progress children in Reception and Year 1 to ensure every child is successful, regardless of background, needs or abilities.

For more information visit:

Ramsbury English Hub (opens new window)

Mobius Maths Hub

Möbius Maths Hub is led by The Willink School and with the support of a number of strategic partners they aim to develop and spread excellent practice in the teaching of mathematics, for the benefit of all students. Using the unique Work Group format along with Teaching for Mastery, the programme is a collaborative process allowing all schools involved to understand and implement excellent teaching practice.

Möbius Maths Hub is one of a network of 40 Maths Hubs in England, working together within the Maths Hubs Programme, which began in 2014. The programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). Over the last 7 years the success of the Maths Hubs programme can be seen in the progression students have made at all stages of education with mathematical knowledge.

For more information visit:

Möbius Maths Hub (opens new window)

Swindon and Wiltshire Teaching Hub

Swindon & Wiltshire Teaching School Hub is a designated centre of excellence committed to providing high quality training and development to all teachers and leaders across the region.  They are building a network of partners so that all teachers will be able to access the very best training and support whatever stage of their career they are at - from ITT right through to the new suite of leadership NPQs, through to the golden thread of teacher and leader development.  They will be delivering the Early Careers Framework, National Professional Qualifications as well as other evidence informed CPD alongside access to the well-established networks and curriculum hubs across our region.

The Hub has a SEND CPD programme which you can read about on: SEND CPD (swindonwiltshiretsh.org.uk) (opens new window). For more information about the Hub visit their homepage:

Swindon & Wiltshire Teaching School Hub (opens new window)

The following button takes you to a log-in page before you can access the form. You can use any valid email address, personal or professional, to create an account. The account stores your requests so that you can access them again later. It only takes a few minutes to set up.

We recommend schools sign up with an email inbox that will not become inaccessible if a member of staff leaves post.

We also recommend contacting the SEND team before making a referral if it is your first time for additional advise and support, or if you have a technical issue with the online form: 01225 712620.

EHC needs assessment request form for schools and settings

For more in depth guidance about the EHCNA process and paperwork visit:

EHC assessments

The 2 to 3 year Integrated review is a combination of both Health Visitor 27 Month ASQ-3 and ASQSE (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) assessments and Early Years Statutory Foundation Stage Progress 2 Year Check.
The Integrated review is an opportunity, when a need is identified from either of these assessments, to bring together both the health and educational reviews, as well as the parents/carer input to achieve a holistic and comprehensive picture of the child. This enables areas requiring additional support to be identified, and referrals to appropriate services to be made.

2 year integrated review guidance (OpenDocument text format, 194 KB)(opens new window)

Integrated 2 year pathway flowchart (OpenDocument text format, 81 KB)(opens new window)

Wiltshire's Inclusion Toolkit is aimed at all educational providers and settings across Wiltshire. The SEND Code of Practice states that the majority of children and young people with SEN or disabilities will have their needs met within local mainstream early years settings, schools or colleges with high quality teaching that is differentiated and personalised. The toolkit contains information to help settings develop provision by providing inclusive environments, effective teaching, and accurate assessment of need to support the graduated response.

For more information visit:

SEND School Improvement resources (rightchoice.wiltshire.gov.uk) (opens new window) 

GOV.UK: Guidance The reading framework: teaching the foundations of literacy (opens new window) (Page 55 for SEND information)

Who to contact if you are worried about a child

If you think a child or young person is at risk of significant harm, or is injured, contact:

0300 456 0108 - Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), standard working hours:

• Monday to Thursday from 8.45am to 5pm
• Friday from 8.45am to 4pm

0300 456 0100 - Out of hours service:

• Monday to Thursday 5pm to midnight, Friday 4pm to midnight
• weekends and Bank Holidays from 9am - midnight
• phones are diverted to the Social Work Standby Service from midnight to 9am (7 days a week)

If there is immediate danger, phone the police or emergency services on 999

For more information on wider services visit:

Contact children's services

For guidance on Direct Payments in Wiltshire download Direct-Payment-Guide (OpenDocument text format, 113 KB)(opens new window)

This Health Passport is there to help young people when they go into a health setting.

This Health Passport is completely customisable for the young person, if they want they can change of the colour of the page to fit their needs, add or remove the information or sections they want.

When printing make sure its A4 and printing on the short edge for best results, when printed you will need to fold it in half to turn it into a booklet.

Download this document for the Health Passport: Customisable Health Passport (OpenDocument text format, 16 KB)(opens new window)

This passport was based on the following guidance from NHS England. See NHS England: Health and care passport – plain English (opens new window).

For a referral to be accepted it is essential that the person has capacity to give informed consent, a best interest decision has been made on behalf a person who lacks capacity or where appropriate a person with parental responsibility has consented to inclusion on behalf of a child or young person. It is therefore important that all relevant information about the DSR is made available to the person themselves, people with parental responsibility and agencies when referral decisions are being made. 

Information about the DSR is available in various formats to ensure that it is provided in a way that maximises a person's ability to understand, retain and weigh up information about this decision to be able to give informed consent. Consent, once given, can be withdrawn at any time. 

If a person is assessed as not having the capacity to give informed consent (and no one holds parental responsibility, or a court of protection appointed personal welfare deputyship), a best interest decision can be made under the Mental Capacity Act for inclusion on the DSR. 

It is important to know that not consenting to join the register will not affect the person's current support. Although the benefit of inclusion on the DSR will be the multi-agency collaboration and communication, scrutiny of the current support provided and the potential to access other appropriate agencies as part of the DSR process. 

Referral for inclusion in the DSR can be made by a professional involved in someone's care, or a self-referral can be made by people with LD and ASC, families, unpaid carers, and others. 

When a referral is received, it will be assessed against a set of criteria. If the person is eligible for inclusion on the DSR, the notifier or referrer will be contacted.

The 2 to 3 year Integrated review is a combination of both Health Visitor 27 Month ASQ-3 and ASQSE (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) assessments and Early Years Statutory Foundation Stage Progress 2 Year Check.
The Integrated review is an opportunity, when a need is identified from either of these assessments, to bring together both the health and educational reviews, as well as the parents/carer input to achieve a holistic and comprehensive picture of the child. This enables areas requiring additional support to be identified, and referrals to appropriate services to be made.

2 year integrated review guidance (OpenDocument text format, 194 KB)(opens new window)

Integrated 2 year pathway flowchart (OpenDocument text format, 81 KB)(opens new window)

To mark mental health awareness week 2021 the NHS BWS ICB produced a series of short films to help children and young people manage their mental health at home.

To watch these short films visit Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board: Young people’s mental health (opens new window).

To read about the BSW ICB Together Green plan for 2022 to 2025 visit: Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon & Wiltshire Together: Greener BSW (opens new window)

BSW ICB Children's Continuing Care Policy (opens new window) (from NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board: Continuing Healthcare (opens new window))

Guidance for supporting the needs of children and young people with medical conditions attending educational settings | BSW ICB (opens new window)

Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Integrated Care Board (ICB) Position Statement on Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) (PDF, 248 KB)(opens new window)

For guidance about continuing care in Wiltshire visit the Children's Continuing Care section of the ICB website: Continuing Healthcare (bsw.icb.nhs.uk) (opens new window)

You can also read the BSW ICB Children's Continuing Care Policy by visiting Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Care Board: BSW ICB Children’s and Young People’s Continuing Care Policy (opens new window).

Wiltshire has a number of local arrangements for collaboration between institutions to support those with SEN.

If you are part of an organisation looking to work with others to improve SEND support you will find a number of existing arrangements on the following link. This will include bodies across Education, Health and Social Care.

Partnerships

If you are aware of others that may be useful for us to share please do get in touch at localoffer@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).