• The Portage PLS Service provides educational support for pre-school SEN children at home and, in some cases, at pre-school
• The Special Education Team provides funding for adult support for pupils with SEN in playgroups/nurseries
• The Early Years Inclusion Consultants work alongside practitioners in pre-school settings to support inclusion of children with SEN, provide SEN training, liaise with other services and also monitor and review pre-school  environment and practice.

In addition:

• Dorset Surestart provides qualified teacher support to all pre-school settings receiving nursery grant funding for 3 and 4 year olds.
• A team of Early Years Inclusion Consultants works across the county to provide guidance on the implementation of the 'Foundation Stage Curriculum' to early years practitioners.
• Dorset Surestart has Childcare Development Officers who help to expand childcare through childminders, day nurseries, pre-schools, after school clubs, holiday play schemes and breakfast clubs, and Childcare Support Workers who provide support for playgroups and all day care for children.

All early years settings have the opportunity to attend staged training courses on SEN matters. All practitioners are recommended to attend Practical Inclusion Training. The training specifically addresses issues relating to the SEN Code of Practice, and the Disability Discrimination Code of Practice.  In addition there are training courses for the settings Special Educational Needs Coordinator on developing inclusive practice, the role of the SENCo and specific areas of SEN, eg social and emotional development, concentration and attention, cognitive and physical development, communication, speech and language difficulties.

Children's Services provides a pre-school system of support for children with special educational needs.  This early identification is seen as most important so those children can be helped by appropriate support as soon as possible.  If a child meets the criteria for the allocation of Portage support in the home, support from Portage in the pre-school, or SEN adult support in pre-school settings, the support is provided.

Need a way of organising all your Inclusion information? Order an Inclusion file from the Early Years Team (contact details below).

• Name: Early Years Team
  Email: earlyyears@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 225633/4/5
  Fax: 01305 224348
  Full details for Early Years Team