Hi Jo

In Worcestershire we work with pre school children with PD. Once referred, we preferably  try and see the child in setting. We only do home visits when we are supporting transition to nursery and we give advice on accessible nurseries. We work collaboratively with the early years advisers in our authority. We issue equipment and  store and recycle as much as we can but the LA's early years team fund it. We fund from school age. I have to say, it is one of the best parts of my job and helps us to form a relationship with the child and family for many years!

Thanks Angela.  So, just to clarify, you still have a pre-school/early years specialist teaching service?  We are also looking forward to the relationship-building aspect of this new way of working - I just wondered what the practice is in other authorities.  Best wishes, Jo

Hello Jo

Yes, the early years team is run by County and they have advisory staff who work with settings and provide advice as well as input into targets etc.

Hi Jo

we are very fortunate in Kent to have Portage for children under the age  of 3 with complex needs.  Portage workers do not usually go into EY settings but work in homes or run groups for children with similar needs.  We also have Early Years specialist teachers who's main focus is to support EY settings and not home visits.  The PD teachers cover all ages 0-25 but do not usually visit early years children at home unless there is a very specific reason for them not being able to attend a setting.  We sometimes take the lead or work alongside the EY specialist teachers to provide advice and support target setting which is linked to a process to apply for additional funding at the setting.