The SEND & SENDCO Toolkit
A practical early years SEND checklist, support plan template and graduated-approach guide for nursery managers and SENDCOs — aligned to the SEND Code of Practice.
- Early identification checklist: what to watch, record and share
- Graduated approach guide: assess, plan, do, review in plain English
- SEND support plan template with SMART targets and adult strategies
- Parent partnership prompts and consent checkpoints
- When and how to involve external agencies and the local authority
- Printable PDF for staff meetings, audits and Ofsted evidence
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What's inside the toolkit
Early identification
6 checks
- • Staff know the difference between a delay, a difference and a possible SEND need
- • Concerns are recorded with dated examples of what was seen and heard
- • The key person flags concerns to the SENDCO within one working week
- + 3 more in the PDF
The graduated approach
6 checks
- • Assess: collect observations from home and setting plus any health information
- • Plan: write two or three SMART targets with clear adult strategies
- • Do: put the strategies into daily practice and record what happens
- + 3 more in the PDF
SEND support plan template
6 checks
- • Child's name, date of birth, key person and review date at the top of every plan
- • Area of need selected from communication, cognition, SEMH, sensory or physical
- • Strengths and interests are listed before targets are written
- + 3 more in the PDF
Working with parents and carers
6 checks
- • Parents are informed before any SEND concern is discussed with others
- • Meetings are arranged at a time and place that works for the family
- • Information is shared in plain language, avoiding diagnosis or labels
- + 3 more in the PDF
External support and next steps
6 checks
- • SENDCO tracks who is involved, what was requested and when the response is due
- • Health visitors, speech and language therapy and educational psychology routes are known
- • Funding applications such as DAF and EYPP are checked for eligible children
- + 3 more in the PDF
Evidence for inspection
6 checks
- • SENDCO time is timetabled and recorded in the setting improvement plan
- • SEND policy is reviewed annually and references the SEND Code of Practice
- • Staff can describe the graduated approach and give a recent example
- + 3 more in the PDF
Draft a SEND support plan in seconds
Describe what you've noticed and what you've already tried, and our free tool drafts a graduated-approach support plan with targets, strategies and a review date. Always edit before sharing.
Need the full SEND & SENDCO toolkit?
Members get editable templates, the SEND policy suite, APDR forms, EHCP request letters, the compliance map and unlimited AI tool runs — from £5.99 a month with a 7-day free trial.
This toolkit is a practical guide produced by Early Years Circle for nursery managers and SENDCOs. It is not published or endorsed by the Department for Education or Ofsted — always refer to the current SEND Code of Practice, Early Years Inspection Handbook and statutory EYFS framework for definitive requirements.
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