Read about the Early Years SEND Link Advisor in Family Centres, and the Mini Talkers Speech and Language group.
Strengthening support in our Family Centres
We are pleased to share two exciting developments designed to enhance early support for children in the Early Years with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.
An Early Years SEND Link advisor for Family Centres: In line with the Best Start in Life strategy, which requires all local areas to have Family Hubs in place by 1 April 2026, we have now established an Early Years SEND Link Advisor for all family centres.
Our Early Years SEND Link Advisor will:
- provide early, proactive support for families with under 5's who have emerging or identified SEND needs
- strengthen links between early years settings, health colleagues, and wider support services
- offer guidance to professionals and parents on accessing the right help at the right time
- ensure SEND inclusion is embedded across all Family Centre activity
This investment reflects our commitment to early identification and joinedup support, ensuring every child has the best start possible.
Introducing the Mini Talkers Speech and Language Group
We are also delighted to announce the launch of Mini Talkers, a new speech and language development group running in our Family Centres.
Mini Talkers is delivered jointly by a Speech and Language Therapist and the SEND Link Advisor, providing:
- practical strategies for parents to support early communication at home
- fun, playbased activities that build children's speech, language, and attention skills
- early identification of communication needs and signposting for additional support
- a welcoming group environment where families can learn, share, and connect
Coming Soon!
Early communication is a vital foundation for learning, social development, and wellbeing, and we are proud to offer another language specific stay and play group as part of our family-centred early support.