Celebrating Early Years SENCO Day!
To celebrate Early Years SENCO Day, we caught up with one of our very own experts, Naomi, to hear all about being a Special Educational Needs Co‑ordinator.
“I have always enjoyed having my foot in SEND support in some way. I am proud of the children I have supported through to school! It is wonderful to still hear updates from their families as they share their most recent achievements. I am always keen to share my passion with my staff teams and support practitioners with a good SEND understanding.” Naomi Bartin, Little Discoveries Early Years Support Manager
What inspired you to become a SENCO?
“I have always had a passion for supporting SEN children and being their voice when it is needed. Celebrating milestones and achievements, sometimes ones we didn’t think might happen, is always really rewarding. I also enjoy finding creative ways to adapt activities and experiences so that every child with SEND can take part and succeed.”
What does a typical day as a SENCO look like?
“In my role, I support staff to develop and strengthen their practice. My work is varied, and I regularly work directly with children on the floor, adapting targets and setting new ones to meet their individual needs. I also liaise with external professionals such as an Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, and many others. Some days are spent writing funding or EHCP applications. My role also includes keeping in touch with parents and keeping communication clear and up to date!”
What do you enjoy most about supporting children with additional needs?
“The most rewarding part is seeing the progress; even the smallest milestone can be the biggest achievement! My favourite part of the role is supporting a child with communication difficulties and finding a method that allows them to communicate, whether through sign, pictures, objects of reference, etc. I love nothing more than sharing these moments with their parents, too!”
Why did you choose to complete your Level 3 SENCO qualification?
“I have always had an interest in SEND; I have attended various training sessions. When I saw that it was available, I was keen to give it a go! I was hoping that it would enhance my knowledge and allow me to meet other practitioners in the same field. There is nothing more valuable than networking and throwing scenarios and ideas around!”
What is Dingley’s Promise and why did you decide to take part?
“Dingley’s Promise delivers Early Years SEND CPD courses that are designed to provide practical support to develop inclusive practice across the sector. I hope that with the information that I learn, I can plan meetings around this, demonstrate practice, and share professional discussions. The course is broken down into specific areas, so I am working my way through them!”
If you would like to start a career in early years, visit our apprenticeship page to find out more: https://www.sslcourses.co.uk/apprenticeships/
SEND support at Little Discoveries
Did you know that SS&L specialises in Early Years & schools, and runs a number of nurseries across Somerset? Little Discoveries is committed to providing an inclusive environment where every child can thrive, and having a qualified SEND Manager leading and supporting our teams ensures that children with additional needs receive the highest quality support at the earliest opportunity.
“Naomi, as a SEND professional, brings specialist knowledge, up-to-date best practice, and a deep understanding of child development, enabling us to identify needs early, implement effective strategies, and work collaboratively with families and external agencies. Equally important, Naomi provides coaching, mentoring, and guidance to our practitioners across the group, helping to build confidence and consistency across our nurseries.” Sara Fennelly, Head of SS&L Early Years Operations
