Supporting Children with Additional Needs

A compassionate, confident guide to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support in the early years, written by Kidz Kabin

Every child arrives at nursery with their own story, strengths and way of experiencing the world. Some children need a little more support to communicate, regulate, move or make sense of what’s around them. That’s not a problem to be fixed, but a difference to be understood.

At Kidz Kabin, supporting children with additional needs is not a bolt-on or a separate pathway. It is embedded into how we observe, plan, teach, communicate and care, every single day.

Early years SEND support matters deeply because these years are when the brain is developing faster than at any other point in life. What we notice, nurture and respond to now lays the foundations for confidence, learning and wellbeing for years to come.

For many families, understanding how a nursery supports children with additional needs is a vital part of choosing the right setting, which we explore more fully in our parent guide on how to choose the right nursery for your child.

Why SEND Support in the Early Years Matters So Much

In the first five years of life, children’s brains are forming millions of neural connections every second.

Early support during this critical window helps build strong foundations for communication, movement, emotional regulation and thinking.

Research from the Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University consistently shows that early intervention during the brain’s most plastic years is far more effective than later support, reinforcing the importance of noticing and responding to additional needs early.

When needs are identified and supported early, we can:

• Reduce frustration and anxiety

• Prevent small difficulties from becoming more complex, bigger barriers

• Support speech, language and social development

• Close developmental gaps before they widen

Many additional needs affect how children communicate, process sensory input or interact socially. Without the right support, children can quickly feel misunderstood or overwhelmed.

At Kidz Kabin, high-quality SEND support ensures that children are fully included in play-based learning alongside their peers, accessing the EYFS curriculum in ways that work for them while also feeling valued, capable and understood.

Play is one of the most powerful tools for inclusion, communication and confidence-building for children, and we explore this further in our article on how learning through play supports early development.

What True SEND Support Looks Like in Nursery

High-quality SEND support starts with people; not with paperwork.

A Strong, Knowledgeable SEND Lead

True SEND support begins with leadership.

At Kidz Kabin, our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) is highly trained, experienced and deeply embedded across all our nursery settings. She works closely with practitioners to identify concerns early through careful observation, assessment and reflective staff discussions.

Support plans are created using the Graduated Approach, ensuring they are child-centred, realistic and measurable. Importantly, support does not wait for a formal diagnosis. If a child needs help, they receive it.

This approach aligns with guidance from the SEND Code of Practice and the Education Endowment Foundation, which both emphasise early, targeted support based on observed need rather than waiting for formal diagnosis.

Our SENDCo maintains strong professional relationships with external specialists and services, ensuring children receive the best possible guidance and intervention. She also supports staff through modelling strategies in practice and delivers regular training including Down Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) awareness and Makaton refreshers. External professionals are also invited in to train teams where needed.

Kidz Kabin is recognised by Barnet for its outstanding SEND support and our standard practice goes above and beyond what is ordinarily available. Targeted intervention is part of our everyday approach, and not an exception.

Early and Gentle Identification: Support First, Labels Later

At Kidz Kabin, identifying SEND is never about rushing to label a child. It’s about noticing patterns in play, communication, behaviour, movement or emotional regulation over time. Practitioners use everyday observations, progress checks and assessments to build a full, respectful picture of each child.

Understanding what typical development can look like at different stages helps both parents and practitioners notice when a child may need extra support, which is something we explore in our EYFS milestones guide for families.

When a concern is raised, it is responded to promptly with support first, rather than waiting for a diagnosis. Conversations with parents are handled sensitively and thoughtfully, always focusing on the child’s strengths alongside areas where extra help may be needed.

Parents are partners in this process. We respect that families know their children best and we value their insight and experience. Early, gentle identification allows children to receive the right support as soon as possible, building confidence, reducing anxiety and preventing difficulties from becoming barriers to learning.

Working Together: Collaborative, Child-Centred Goal Setting

SEND support works best when everyone is working towards the same goal, which is to help the child thrive.

At Kidz Kabin, goals are set collaboratively between parents, the SENDCo and the child’s key person. Targets are meaningful, achievable and woven into everyday routines and we would never isolate children from their peers.

When children transition, whether between rooms or on to school, they are carefully prepared using social stories, photographs and visits, often alongside parents. Our SENDCo also supports families by attending school visits and speaking directly with SEND teams to ensure the next setting is the right fit.

All Kidz Kabin settings are Makaton trained, and Makaton is used daily with all children as part of our curriculum, supporting communication and inclusion across the board.

Progress is always celebrated. No step forward is too small to matter.

Inclusive Environments That Work for Every Child

The EYFS framework highlights that children develop communication, social understanding and emotional regulation most effectively through play and responsive interaction, making inclusive, play-based environments especially important for children with additional needs.

Our inclusive environment is carefully designed so all children can access, participate and thrive. Inclusion isn’t about expecting a child to adapt to the environment but rather, adapting the environment to support the child.

Our nursery spaces are designed to be calm, predictable and well organised, helping to reduce anxiety and support regulation. Clear routines are supported by visual timetables, symbols and objects of reference so children know what’s happening in the moment and what’s coming next.

Resources are accessible to all children, including those with physical, sensory or communication needs. Where needed, reasonable adjustments are made to lighting, noise levels, transitions, food requirements or space, to support sensory differences.

We balance open-ended play with structured support, allowing children to engage at their own level while promoting independence, belonging and positive self-esteem.

The Small, Everyday Strategies That Make a Big Difference

True SEND support lives in the details. Evidence from organisations such as The Communication Trust and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) highlights that visual supports, sign-supported communication and sensory-aware environments can significantly reduce anxiety and support communication for young children with additional needs.

Across Kidz Kabin settings you’ll see:

• Visual timetables and now-and-next boards in every room

• Makaton used naturally alongside spoken language

• Clear, simple instructions with extra processing time

• Choices offered to promote independence and reduce anxiety

• Activities adapted so all children can participate meaningfully

• Language and social interaction modelled through play

• Sensory resources always available

• Quiet spaces, movement breaks and regulation support built into the day

Positive behaviour support focuses on building confidence rather than compliance.

Working in Partnership With Parents

SEND support does not stop at the nursery door.

At Kidz Kabin, we build strong, trusting relationships with parents and carers. Communication is open, regular and honest, with updates on progress, strengths and next steps.

Strategies are shared so support is consistent between home and nursery. Parents are involved in identification, planning, reviews and decisions every step of the way.

Research consistently shows that when parents and early years professionals work in genuine partnership, children with additional needs experience stronger developmental outcomes and smoother transitions. This is reflected in the Department for Education (DfE) & Early Years SEND guidance which highlights strong parent–practitioner partnerships leads to better developmental outcomes.

Our SENDCo offers reassurance, guidance and signposting to further support where needed, and always with sensitivity, respect and without judgement.

Success is shared. Challenges are shared. Every achievement, however small it may seem, is celebrated together.

Every Child Deserves to Feel Understood

Supporting children with additional needs isn’t about fixing differences, but about understanding them.

At Kidz Kabin, we believe that when children feel safe, supported and genuinely included, they flourish emotionally, socially and academically.

Every child deserves the chance to thrive, exactly as they are.

If you’re exploring nursery options and SEND support is an important consideration for your family, our complete guide on how to choose the right nursery for your child may help you feel more confident and informed.