Specialist early education service

Specialist Early Education Service (SEES) is a home visiting support service for families of pre-school children with additional needs. Collaborative working with pre-school settings is a feature of SEES programmes.

Specialist Early Education Service (SEES) professionals are highly trained in a range of evidence based approaches to support pre-school children with additional needs. SEES benefits from being part of the Educational Psychology Service, which provides quality supervision to area lead teaching staff, training, and advice for SEES Teams.

SEES is primarily a home visiting support service.

SEES professionals are experienced in working closely with families. We endeavour to engage with and support young children through a play based approach.

SEES aim to work collaboratively with families to foster a clear understanding of their child's individual needs, and to build parental confidence to enable families to feel skilled in their ability to support the development of their child with additional needs.

SEES support is effective when the partnership between a family and the SEES professional is strong. Parents/carers need to be committed to the programme and carry out agreed activities to support their child between home visits.

The SEES team work closely with other relevant professionals to ensure that everyone works towards shared goals. This liaison may also include visits and support to pre-school settings.

SEES provide a range of early years home-based programmes:

Portage
Communication and Play Programme (CAPP)
Local Early Autism Programme (LEAP)
Positive Play (PPP)

Portage

Portage is a nationally accredited and successful home-based teaching programme for families of young children who present with additional needs. A targeted, small step, developmental approach is taken to promote skills in communication and interaction, play/cognition, fine/gross motor, and self-help. All children follow an individualised programme tailored specifically for them.

The duration of a Portage Programme is dependent upon a child's individual needs, progress and the ability of the family to commit to the programme. Programmes will be reviewed termly. Weekly or fortnightly home visits may be offered.

Please provide detailed assessment information, such as a developmental checklist for the child.

Portage Referral Criteria:

The child being referred is aged between 12 and 30 months
The child's development is delayed by 1/3 of their chronological age in 2 or more areas of development

Portage early education support service

Communication and Play Programme(CAPP)

The Communication and Play programme (CAPP) is an effective early intervention which has been developed in Surrey. It provides information and support to families of children who have Social Communication needs or who have been diagnosed as Autistic. The programme aims to support families with practical ideas and strategies to help their child's learning and development. This is a home-based programme.

Evidence based strategies are modelled and shared with parents according to child's needs and family priorities.

Please provide detailed assessment information including observations.

CAPP referral criteria

The child being referred is aged between 24 months and 30 months
Main area of need is social communication difficulties or Autism

Local Early Autism Programme (LEAP)

Local Early Autism Programme (LEAP) is a highly effective early intervention which was developed in Surrey. LEAP provides intensive support to families of children who have severe and complex social and communication needs. This includes children who are awaiting or who have been diagnosed Autistic. 'SCERTS' (an autism specific framework) is used to assess, plan and review each child's individual programme. Key visual and rule-based strategies are promoted which focus on developing children's skills in social communication and emotional regulation.

Typically, one home visit and one pre-school visit is made each week, although local community visits can be made if appropriate. There will be a formal termly review of progress using SCERTS data to identify whether the child continues to meet the criteria and whether the family and pre-school are engaging with the programme.

Please provide detailed assessment information including checklists and observations

LEAP referral criteria

The child needs to be referred for LEAP between the 1 of April and the 20 June in their -2 National Curriculum year (NCY) and LEAP is delivered in their -1 NCY (preschool year) for example a child due to start school in September 2024 would be referred between 1 April 2023 and 20 June 2023 to be considered for a place starting September 2023
The child has severe and complex social and communication needs. This includes children who are awaiting or who have been given a diagnosis of autism
LEAP places are allocated based on severity of need
The child is not in receipt of other specialist educational support services such as a specialist nursery, ABA or Portage
Once LEAP places are allocated for the academic year there will be no additional places available for that year group (we do not keep a waiting list)

Positive Play Programme (PPP)

PPP is a homebased support programme for families of preschool children with social, emotional and behavioural needs. It aims to develop the knowledge and skills of the family to support their children.

Please provide detailed assessment information and observations

PPP referral criteria

The child being referred will be in their preschool year
The child presents with extreme behavioural difficulties that have had impact on their learning and home environments
There are no other developmental concerns such as social communication needs or Autism
Parents need to have accessed parenting support such as parenting puzzle, behaviour support from health visitor or early years setting prior to referral

Making a referral to SEES (Portage, LEAP or PPP)

SEES operates an open referral system. When making a referral please ensure that parents/carers are available and committed to receiving regular term time home visits during school hours.

Referrals should be made on the SEES referral form below, please attach clinic letters, additional information, reports etc.

Referrals should be made on an SEES Referral Form (DOC). You can also contact your local area team.

Please include signed consent from parents/ carers

Additional SEES activities

For information, contact your local area team.

The Early Development Group offers fortnightly sessions for parents and their child with Down Syndrome
Social and Learning Activities Groups are organised locally to provide support to families and children
Parent/carer and professionals training/workshops

For information, contact your local area team.

Social and Learning Activities Groups are organised locally to provide support to families and children
Parent/carer and professionals training/workshops

SEES enquiries (contact your local area team)

Reviewed: 26 Jun 2024
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Specialist early education service

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