Early Years

Strengthening Support: The SEND Support Advisory Partnership (SSAP)

To further strengthen the support available at the SEND Support stage, a new approach is being introduced: the SEND Support Advisory Partnership (SSAP). SSAP is a multi-agency group that provides advice, resources, and, where appropriate, additional funding to help schools meet pupils’ SEND needs earlier and more effectively. Through SSAP: Referrals to SSAP are made by schools and may also […]

Understanding SEND Support

Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) have learning difficulties or disabilities that make learning harder for them compared to others of the same age. They may need extra or different help to support their education effectively. How SEND is Identified SEND can be identified in several ways: Early identification and support […]

Ordinarily Available Provision and SEND Support Plans

The Graduated Response supports schools with SEND support and intervention. This helps to ensure that all steps taken are reasonable. Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) and the Graduated Response Overview Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) outlines the support and interventions that should be routinely available in all mainstream schools and colleges to meet the needs of young people […]

Online resources to support

The National Autistic Society: national information about autism including specific guides around autism-related strengths and difficulties as well as information for the wider family. www.nas.org.uk; http://www.nassutton.org.uk/ The National Autistic Society’s Autism Helpline has interpretation facilities. This enables them to provide information to families in 150 languages over the phone. Someone has to speak in English at first and give […]

Early Years Newsletters

Summer Term 2025

The Early Years SEND team

Hello from the Early Years SEND Team! We are part of Cognus Limited. Cognus is owned by the London Borough of Sutton to deliver education services. We work in partnership with many other education services and with schools and settings to support inclusion, well-being and education outcomes in our Borough. The Job of the Early […]

Early Identification and Notification

For Parents / Carers Click on the image to view the information leaflet for parents / carers on the Early Identification and Notification process For Professionals Click on the image to view the information leaflet for professionals on the Early Identification and Notification process. CCGs, NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts MUST inform the appropriate […]

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

ELSAs are trained to support pupils with social and emotional needs. Their work is mostly one-on-one, though small group sessions are sometimes used for social and friendship skills. ELSAs receive clinical supervision from educational psychologists but are managed within their own schools. ELSAs cannot fix children’s problems but provide crucial emotional support. They build respectful […]

Resources for schools

Posters Click on the image to open a full size version you can save and print. I Wish My Teacher Knew… A classroom tool that allows children to confidentially share their worries, hopes, and achievements with their teacher. It helps build trust, supports emotional wellbeing, and enables early intervention by giving students a safe space […]

Meet the team

Elizabeth Ross CBT Therapist/Art Therapist I understand that there is no one size fits all approach to therapy and aim to work together with young people to support understanding, change and growth. Sarah Bass Dramatherapist I aim to help people harness their creativity to aide healing, growth, and development. EMDR therapy also sits within my […]