Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Acknowledged
Family Hubs offer SEND identification opportunities but lack sufficient awareness and early screening.
Conclusion
Best Start Family Hubs and the expansion of childcare provision present a valuable opportunity to engage with families earlier and identify SEND needs at the earliest possible stage. We welcome the announcement that every Best Start Family Hub will have a SENCO. However, SEND awareness is not currently sufficiently embedded amongst all early years staff, nor are there currently sufficient opportunities for early screenings that could facilitate timely support and referrals. We note the current inquiry at the time of publication of the Health Social Care Committee on ‘The First 1000 Days: a renewed focus’ and the further work we have agreed to undertake on early years, all of which should be taken full account of by the Government. (Conclusion, Paragraph 174)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of early identification and SEND awareness, detailing its ongoing 'Best Start in Life' strategy, including funding Best Start Family Hubs with trained professionals and continuing funding for early language interventions like the NELI program until AY 2028/29.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We are making changes to improve the system for children with SEND already. The Best Start in Life strategy means a stronger focus on early identification, inclusive access to early years education, and tailored family support. We are doing this by: • making inclusive practice standard practice, working with early years educators, including Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), to embed inclusive practice across all early years teaching and qualifications. • funding Best Start Family hubs in every local authority, with children and family services professionals specifically trained in working to support parents of children with additional needs. This will help identify children with special educational needs and disabilities who may need extra help early on, making links with local early years settings and health services. • funding evidenced-based early language interventions to enable early language development and identify SEND at the earliest opportunity. We will continue to ensure every reception class benefits from fully funded access to proven programmes such as the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) – funding for the NELI programme will continue for a further 4 academic years until the end of AY 2028/29. We will also fund specialist early language leads in local areas to give hands-on support and training to early years educators and settings. Reception staff will also be able to access specialist early language lead support.