SEND children
Our accessible offering for children with additional needs
Supporting children with SEND in the early years
Forest School for Life is committed to providing inclusive, nurturing, and high-quality care for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, explore, and develop in a supportive environment tailored to their individual needs.
We have high aspirations for all children and a clear vision for the education of children with SEND. We support all children to communicate their views, feelings and wishes, and we listen to and act on these.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Principles
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances.”
Four guiding principles should shape practice in early years settings:
• Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
• Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
• Importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
How we support children with SEND
We understand the importance of early interventions and tailored care.
Our experienced team works closely with families to create individualized learning plans and provide a safe, engaging environment for children to flourish.
We maintain regular communication with parents and carers, ensuring the best outcomes for every child.
Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), Carolyn, is available for guidance and to answer any questions you may have. You can contact her directly at carolyn@forestschoolforlife.co.uk.
Local SEND information and services for families in Norfolk
We are proud to connect families with a range of local SEND services, including:
SEND Local Offer: Comprehensive support for families
A Young Person’s Guide to the Children and Families Act: Information on SEND rights
Contact: Charity supporting families with disabled children
Equal Lives: User-led Disabled Persons’ Organisation in Norfolk & Suffolk
SIBS: Supporting siblings of children with SEND
SENDIASS Norfolk: Free advisory service for SEND legal rights
Norfolk Family Voice: Parent-led community supporting SEND families
Just One Norfolk: Health services for children
Norfolk County Council SEND Support: Social care assistance
Norfolk Community Directory: Comprehensive SEND service guide
SEND resources for schools & early years providers
To support professionals working with children with SEND, we recommend the following frameworks:
The Children & Families Act 2014: Guidance on supporting SEND children
Developmental Trauma Close Up: Understanding trauma’s impact on child development
SEND Code of Practice (2014): Legal framework for SEND education
SEN & Disability in the Early Years Toolkit: Guidance for Early Years providers
Deaf-Friendly Early Education: Practical advice for supporting deaf children
Virtual Schools Sensory Support: Vision impairment learning resources (📞 01603 704040)
Vision Norfolk: Support for individuals experiencing sight loss
Every Child Needs a Champion – TED Talk by Rita Pierson: Inspirational education talk
Council for Disabled Children: Free e-learning & SEND guidance
SEND & EAL (English as an Additional Language) Training: Specialist training
Language Line: Access language support for multilingual SEND learners (📞 01603 222300, option 3)
Widget Symbols: Free visual aids to support learning
NASEN: National Association for Special Educational Needs – Professional SEND development resources
Get in touch
We know how important this decision is to your family. For that reason, there’s no question too big or too small.
If there’s anything more you’d like to know or discuss, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.