Support for all childcare providers and schools in Sutton, is provided by Cognus Limited.

Early Years Advisory Team

The Early Years advisory team are a team of early years specialists and include:

  • Early Years Advisors
  • Special Educational Needs Advisors
  • Childminder Development Officer

What we do

  • support, advise and challenge all early years settings, schools and childminders in developing and maintaining good inclusive practice
  • promote enjoyment, achievement and attainment through high quality provision, environments and experiences for all children including those with special educational needs and disabilities
  • provide training and visits to all early years providers
  • support practitioners to strengthen partnership working, including parents and carers
  • promote effective transitions within the early years and key stage one
  • provide strategic support to increase places for 2 year olds
  • support quality improvement and self-reflective practice
  • to share best practice and information across all sectors of early years
  • improve communication through network meetings and forums
  • work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with health, social care and education to provide the best outcomes for families and children with special educational needs and disabilities
  • advise on the Ofsted framework for early years
  • represent the early years workforce on various local panels and working groups and liaise with colleagues where necessary
  • support and training for the named SEN coordinator in his or her role
  • delivery of training on various aspects of SEN throughout the year and providing 'in-house' training to whole settings, where needed, on request
  • visits to each group setting throughout the year to observe children, attend meetings with parents, practitioners and other professionals, give advice to key persons, help to set individual targets, modelling of appropriate strategies, providing written reports and general feedback
  • giving general advice to settings' management regarding inclusive practice and procedures, policy writing etc
  • provide 'how to become a childminder' training to prospective childminders and undertake pre-registration visits for childminders

SEN Inclusion Funding

SEN inclusion funding is available to childcare providers of SEN children known to the SEN Advisory Team.

Funding is allocated each term, based on the children's needs and the providers ability to support them. If you think you would be eligible for SEN inclusion funding please get in contact with your SEN Advisor.

EYFS funding link 

Training for childcare providers