This award helps schools deliver high-quality education for pupils with SEND. Compliant with the SEND Code of Practice, the award framework focuses on removing barriers to learning through early identification, inclusive teaching and leadership. It also allows us to evaluate impact to improve classroom practice and pupil outcomes.

Brighter Beginnings - Early Years Inclusion Award

The Early Years Inclusion Award is an outstanding achievement that settings can receive once they have demonstrated they are an inclusive setting to all children including those with additional needs. This award validates that settings are meeting the requirements for the SEND Code of Practice

Early Years settings must submit evidence to demonstrate that they have met the standards and competency framework of the Inclusion Award to gain this status.

Settings are supported by the Early Years Team, Portage Team, Autism Advisor and Educational Psychology service to work towards meeting these standards.

This award will:

• Enrich workforce development within Early Years providers
• Have a positive impact on children, diminishing the difference in children’s attainment
• Improve choices for parents of children with SEND.
• Promote and increase inclusion by providers of the EYFS
• Increase the sufficiency of places for children with SEND to include take up of the 30hour entitlement.

Settings that have achieved the Level 1 and 2 award, will then provide support to other early years settings, who are working towards achieving the Brighter Beginnings Inclusion Award.