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What happens and when - Early Years (age 0-4)

5 cartoon people, one is in a wheelchair

Parents are often the first to notice when their child is:

  • not crawling
  • not talking
  • not walking

at the age when children normally develop these skills.

If there are any concerns, parents/carers should speak to their health visitor, GP or childcare provider.  Parents/carers can also contact the 0-5 SEND Support Service phoneline for advice and support.

More information can be found here.

Childcare providers and education support services will become involved to help with any additional needs of a child.  SEN Support should be offered by the childcare provider if a child has additional needs.  You can read more about this here.

Childcare providers and education support services would assess if an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan should be applied for.  These plans are for if help is needed for a child that isn't normally available in a nursery or school.  This includes childminders.  You can read more about EHC Plans here.

If a child has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

An Annual Review meeting should take place every 6 months.  This is to make sure the outcomes and provision in the plan are up to date.

Outcomes should be around the four preparation for adulthood areas:

1. employment, education and training
2. independent living
3. community inclusion, friends and relationships
4. health

It is important that a review happens before the child moves into full time school (Reception class / Foundation Stage 2). 

During this age period, young children should be learning to:

  • follow instructions. A child who is hearing or vision impaired will follow instructions in a different way.
  • adapt to new environments
  • play with other children
  • do real world play (builder / nurse / doctor)

Begin to look at primary schools in the local area from around age 2.  If a child doesn't have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) then applications are made through School Admissions.  If they have an EHCP, SEND Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS) will send out a letter asking for school choices.  Settings will also discuss this at the EHCP annual review.

During this age period, young children should be learning to:

  • feed and drink
  • recognise the need to use the toilet
  • ask to go to the toilet
  • go to the toilet (with support or on their own)
  • recognise the need to wash their hands and know why this is important
  • do real world play (kitchens, DIY, cleaning)
  • identify their own clothing
  • get dressed and undressed with support or on their own
  • brush their teeth with support or on their own
  • make choices

During this age period, young children should be learning to:

  • make friends
  • have social interaction
  • show an interest in what others are doing
  • play and work alongside others
  • begin to recognise other people may have different ideas, thoughts and feelings
  • begin how to build and maintain relationships.  This could be with one adult, two children, a small group and unfamiliar people.
  • go on visits / day trips

During this age period, young children should be having:

  • checks at birth (hearing etc)
  • diet and food variety
  • 2 year old development check
  • immunisations

They should:

  • recognise feelings when they feel unwell or are in pain
  • know who to tell when they are feeling unwell
  • develop good bedtime routines with support
  • recognise, name and eat a range of foods with different textures and flavours
  • begin to categorise food.  For example, fruit, vegetables and meat.
  • begin to learn where their food comes from.  For example, from plants or animals
  • being to understand how important it is to drink and stay hydrated
  • begin to understand the difference bewteen healthy and unhealthy foods
  • begin to learn to brush their teeth and know why this is important to keep their teeth from decay
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In this section

  1. Introduction to the Transition Guide
  2. Preparing for Adulthood
  3. Sheffield's Local Offer
  4. What happens and when - Early Years (age 0-4)
  5. What happens and when - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (age 5-7)
  6. What happens and when - Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 (age 7-11)
  7. What happens and when - Year 7 and Year 8 (age 11-13)
  8. What happens and when - Year 9 (age 13-14)
  9. What happens and when - Year 10 (age 14-15)
  10. What happens and when - Year 11 (Age 15-16)
  11. What happens and when - Year 12 (age 16-17)
  12. What happens and when - Years 13 and 14 (Age 17-19)
  13. What happens and when - Age 19-25
  14. Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans - Transition Guide
  15. Education, Employment and Training - GCSEs and Help in Exams - Transition Guide
  16. Post 16 Education - Transition Guide
  17. A Guide to Qualifications at 16+ - Transition Guide
  18. Apprenticeships and Supported Internships - Transition Guide
  19. Things to do when not in college - Transition Guide
  20. University and Higher Education - Transition Guide
  21. Careers Advice - Transition Guide
  22. 1) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  23. 2) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  24. 3) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  25. Leisure - Transition Guide
  26. SEN Transport - Transition Guide
  27. Independent Travel Training
  28. Other Travel Support and useful Apps - Transition Guide
  29. Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  30. Moving from Children’s to Adult Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  31. Paying for adult social care - Transition Guide
  32. Getting a carer’s assessment for your parent/carer - Transition Guide
  33. Short Break Services - Transition Guide
  34. Direct payments for social care services - Transition Guide
  35. Housing - Transition Guide
  36. Decision making and mental capacity - Transition Guide
  37. Transitioning from Children’s Health to Adult Health Services - Transition Guide
  38. Annual Health Checks for people with a learning disability - Transition Guide
  39. Important Local NHS Health Services - Transition Guide
  40. Mental Health Services - Transition Guide
  41. 1) Finance and Benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Direct Payments and Appointeeship - Transition Guide
  42. 2) Finance and Benefits: Universal Credit - Transition Guide
  43. 3) Finance and Benefits: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund - Transition Guide
  44. 4) Finance and Benefits: Banking, Wills and Trusts and Child Benefit - Transition Guide
  45. Further help and support - Transition guide