Early Years SEND Inclusion Recommendations
Pushing for early years SEND policy change
Dingley’s Promise is clear that without immediate reform to provide greater support for the early years sector in a number of areas, children and families will continue to be failed by a system within which they do not belong.
We’re calling for vital policy change to improve access for children with SEND to an early years education. This is a precious opportunity to make significant and lasting changes to the system. The government has emphasised the need to put early years SEND at the heart of reforms, recognising that building inclusion is key to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive in the long term. We now need to see action taken which addresses these growing problems.
Please read our recommendations for early years inclusion below and share our calls to action; because building inclusion in the early years is everyone’s responsibility.
Our family survey in April 2025 reflects the true impact of failings in the current system:
of families said their level of trust in the education system was low or very low
of families have struggled to access support for their child from their local authority
of families said their child had been turned away from at least one setting
of families said their children are not accessing their full entitlements
A call to action
We’re asking everyone across the early years sector to support our recommendations and positively drive change – because building an inclusive early years is everyone’s responsibility. Take a look at our calls to action here:
“We want to remove the barriers and reverse the negative culture which has developed in the early years sector, which is impacting the numbers of children with SEND who are able to access their early years education in a meaningful and inclusive way. With reforms imminent, this is an ideal time for us to share our knowledge and experience of working with families for over 40 years to ensure that their voices are heard.
We need to be brave and invest our resources differently, making greater long term improvements for children, families, educators and the economy.”
Catherine McLeod MBE – CEO of Dingley’s Promise
“We are backing the work of Dingley’s Promise to create a more inclusive early education system. There is so much within our gift now that would improve access and inclusion for children today.”
Sarah Ronan, Director of Early Education and Childcare Coalition