Dingley's Promise

Investment in the early years is vital in order for all children to thrive. We continue to speak up and push for inclusion within early years education.

The National Association for Advancing Autism Education is holding a networking event on 9th May. For those working with autistic children in the early years, this may be helpful for sharing experiences and strategies. For more details visit their event page: https://buff.ly/dpHFBw7

Join the thousands of early years educators who are developing their skills, boosting their confidence and helping to ensure that every child with SEND achieves their potential. Sign up as a setting before 31st March and receive 25% off bulk orders of 5 or more courses. Email georgina@dingley.org.uk to take advantage of this time limited offer!

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Why attend our upcoming transitions webinar?  Hear from experts – Insights from Catherine McLeod MBE (Dingley’s Promise CEO) and Ann Van Dyke MBE  Explore current case studies from Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, and Norfolk offering opportunities to discuss best practice  Engage in interactive discussions – share your experiences and ideas with other early years professionals and learn from each other.  Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/eixC7RWH

On Tuesday Catherine McLeod MBE , CEO of #DingleysPromise gave evidence at the Select Committee inquiry 'Solving the SEND Crisis', raising the changes needed for early years SEND within the education system. ✔️Levels of sufficiency need to be immediately addressed to prevent children with SEND being turned away or unable to access early years settings ✔️Knowledge and confidence in inclusive practice must be developed in the early years workforce ✔️Less over reliance should be placed on 1:1 support, with focus instead on enhanced ratios and strong inclusive practice ✔️Access to funding is too slow, settings need to access this quickly to respond to need effectively ✔️Streamlining is needed to ensure accountability across the early years sector ✔️More detail is required in the Child Sufficiency Assessments, especially in relation to supply and demand information Catherine highlighted that the sector needs to put early years SEND first and fully value the vital role of educators within the early years system and the impact they have. https://buff.ly/0SSyz11

We're looking for the perfect candidate to join our team as Head of Training! For more details on the role and how to apply, visit: https://buff.ly/it93x7g

Join us for an insightful session exploring best practices, case studies, and strategies for improving transitions for children in the early years with SEND.  Date: Monday 17th March  Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM  This webinar is ideal for early years professionals, local authorities, SEND coordinators, and parents/carers who want to improve outcomes for children with SEND.  Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/eixC7RWH

Our CEO Catherine was delighted to be asked to provide evidence on ‘Solving the SEND Crisis’ to the Education Select Committee today. She highlighted the need to tackle sufficiency issues within early years, to ensure that local authorities and settings are aware of the levels of local need and able to respond to it. Catherine flagged the need for the early years workforce to be valued for the incredible job it does and investment in workforce development to further improve inclusive practice across the sector. The need to remove the barriers to funding for settings was highlighted as well as the need for enhanced ratios rather than over reliance on 1:1 support, which can negatively impact on long term outcomes. SEND and Early Years must be prioritised in reforms and Dingley’s Promise is proud to be a leading voice in facilitating these vital changes to improve lives for children and families. Whole School SEND nasen

A coalition of leading early years and education organisations has come together to create Starting Reception, a clear, practical definition of school readiness for parents, educators, and policymakers. We're pleased to see that the needs of children with SEND are considered in the document. Every child is different, and it is important that settings work together with families to help all children thrive. Catherine McLeod, Chief Executive of Dingley’s Promise, said: “We are delighted that the ‘Starting Reception’ definition considers the needs of children with SEND and their families. As an organisation which supports children with SEND in the early years, we are acutely aware of the importance of taking a collaborative approach. Sharing information around developmental progress and needs ensures that education settings are ready to support children, and helps parents with the vital preparation of key skills in the home.” https://lnkd.in/e7gYaHBp