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SureStart County Durham

Inclusion

The Inclusion Team

The Inclusion Team consists of a variety of people and projects to promote and support inclusion throughout County Durham. They host an annual Inclusion Conference where there is an opportunity to listen to keynote speakers and take part in a variety of workshops.

The team are able to provide training on:

  • The Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs
  • The Disability Discrimination Act
  • Writing SEN and Behaviour Policies
  • Writing Reports and Attending Meetings
  • The Senco role and developing a Senco file
  • Individual Education Programmes
  • Working With Parents
  • Behaviour Management for Settings and for Parents
  • Language and Communication Skills
  • Down Syndrome, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and a variety of other topics including child development.

The Inclusion Co-ordinators, Dianne Hodgson and Jenny O’Neill can be contacted for further information or please contact the individual projects and teams listed below.

Dianne Hodgson - tel: 0191 3835647
Jenny O’Neill - tel: 0191 3835646

Area SENCO Team

Every nursery and childcare setting will have a member of staff who is appointed to be the Special Educational Needs Support Co-ordinator (SENCO) for that particular nursery or childcare setting. The SENCO will be responsible for implementing the SEN Code of Practice and ensuring any children with special or additional needs are identified and have their needs met.

The Area SENCO team (based at County Hall, Durham) are available to advise and support PVI nurseries, childcare settings and Children's Centres on issues surrounding inclusion and special educational needs. They can also give advice on individual children, if written parental permission has been obtained. Training can be delivered, in nursery or childcare settings, to sencos, managers or whole staff teams; whichever is appropriate. The Area SENCO Team also contribute to courses advertised in the yearly SureStart County Durham Training Programme.

The Team run SENCO Drop In Sessions in three venues each term. These are an opportunity to meet other sencos, seek advice on SEN matters, borrow resources and have a cup of tea and a chat.

They also host an annual Inclusion Conference where there is an opportunity to listen to keynote speakers and take part in a variety of workshops.

The Team have a number of resources available for loan including books, videos and dvds on a variety of issues. They also have various toys including multi-cultural dolls and puzzles.

They hold termly Senco Business Meetings at County Hall to which all sencos are invited to listen and discuss about current topical issues around SEN and Government guidance.

There are four Area SENCOs:
Sue Bell - tel: 0191 3835648
Gill Briggs - tel: 0191 3835648
Ros Collinson - tel: 0191 3835648
Jackie Easton - tel: 0191 3833580

Helen Geldard - Support Worker for Children and Families with Complex Communication Difficulties

Helen is an experienced practitioner who is able to support and offer advice and guidance to children, families and settings around issues regarding complex communication difficulties. tel: 0191 3835645

Sam Howe and Nova Dawson - Project Workers

Sam and Nova are experienced childcare workers who are able to support children with additional needs in PVI settings.

Inclusion Initiatives

'Early Years Getting Along Project'

This programme is designed to help children develop social skills. A member of the 'Getting Along Team' will come into the setting and work with a target child, a small group of children and a member of staff. Activities take place over a number of sessions with the ultimate aim that the setting will continue the activities on their own once the 'Getting Along' support is withdrawn. Training for all staff in the setting is given. A programme for all parents to support their children with social skills is also available. For further information contact, Claire Watts or Nicola Mortimer-White - tel: 01388 424901

‘Moving On’ – A child and family held record.

‘Moving On’ is a child and parent/carer owned file, which is designed to give the child and parent/carer greater ownership and input into the sharing of information with the many professionals they may meet. The file is designed for ALL children and families to contribute to and adapt to their own individual needs. For further information contact, Ros Collinson from the ‘Moving On’ group - tel: 0191 3835648.

Motor Skills Programme

A project aimed at helping settings to promote and develop gross and fine motor skills in the Early Years. Packed full of ideas and activities designed to improve the physical development of young children. For further information contact Andrea Emmerson - tel: 0779 5590414