Improving Inclusion in Early Years: 'Delivering Better Value' for children with SEND

Following the success of our first year-long in-person programme, which finished in the summer, we have started another from September 2025. We have also introduced an online Inclusion Champions platform which allows providers to complete training and work towards an Early Years Inclusion Champion Award at a pace to suit them, with support from an Inclusion Advisor from the Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service.

About the Delivering Better Value programme first year

Staff from 27 early years providers with high numbers of children with SEND completed the programme which included high‑quality inclusion training and focused on:

• Creating more inclusive learning environments both indoors and outdoors.
• Supporting children’s behaviour positively.
• Building stronger relationships with parents and professionals.
• Improving transitions.
• Growing staff confidence in inclusive practice.

The programme supported settings to achieve the Early Years Inclusion Champion Award, recognising their commitment to inclusive, child‑centred practice.

More children being supported where they are, by staff who know them best

The Early Years Multi‑Disciplinary Team (EYMDT) can allocate extra support to help a child access their full early years’ entitlement safely and successfully.

Thanks to the training and support through the Delivering Better Value programme, many practitioners now feel more confident identifying needs early and adapting their practice - meaning fewer children need to be referred for additional specialist support. The programme led to a:

• 53 per cent reduction in EYMDT requests.
• 26 per cent reduction in requests for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs).
• 27 per cent increase in children supported on the Graduated Pathway.

This means more children are being supported where they are, by people who know them best.

Better experiences for children with SEND

One of the biggest successes is that 54 per cent of children who were previously on reduced timetables are now accessing their full early years’ entitlement. This is a huge achievement for those children and their families and reflects the inclusive changes settings have made.

Practitioners have told us how the programme has transformed settings everyday practice:

• “Being more consistent with routines and visuals helps our children to know what’s happening.”
• “Clear calm spaces have supported children to self‑regulate.”
• “We’ve completely transformed our environment… children’s needs and interests are being met more consistently.”
• “We are more reflective as a team and able to adapt what we do.”These real‑world changes have made Early Years settings calmer, more inclusive, and more responsive to children’s needs.

Building skills, confidence and community

At least 75 per cent of all practitioners involved completed the required training, and 100 per cent of settings now have a trained Level 3 SENCO. Practitioners said they valued:

• Learning together as a team
• Being supported by the Early Years Service
• Visiting other settings to share ideas
• Having Inclusion Advisors offer constructive feedback
• Meeting colleagues from other providers and realising “we’re not alone.”
  
  

The programme has helped build a strong, collaborative early years network focused on doing the very best for children.

A huge well done and thank you to our Early Years providers

All the childcare settings that took part improved, and by the end of the programme every one of the 27 settings had fully put inclusive practice into place. This shows just how committed they were and how much progress they made.

This is an incredible achievement, and we want to say a heartfelt thank you to all early years’ staff who took part in the programme. Your enthusiasm, openness to learning, and hard work have made a real difference for children with SEND and their families.

And to the families themselves - thank you for working alongside your early years’ providers and helping to build truly inclusive environments where every child can thrive.

Together, we are making Gloucestershire a place where all children are welcomed, supported, and given the best possible start.

For more information on the Early Years and SEND, please visit Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND.