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Guest Blog - Helping children as early as possible through Early Adventurers

Published January 2023

The Family Support Service have developed a new way to ensure that young children get support as early as possible, even when their needs might just be emerging. In this guest blog, they tell us about the new Early Adventurers group running at Family Centres across Hertfordshire.

Family Centres have always run courses to support families. But the parents and carers who attended our Little Learners group told us that they felt the course was, at 5 weeks, too short for some children to settle into a routine and feel confident within the group.  So we set out to understand what we could do to better meet the needs of our families.  Parents told us that they would like a course which could be tailored to the needs of their children, and which would help build the confidence of both parents and their children, with the aim that their child would be able to take up a place at a pre-school or nursery.

So we worked with families to create a new 8-week course called 'Early Adventurers' which we trialled in the autumn -  increasing the age range so that children from 18 months to 4 years can attend, and putting the needs of the child at the centre of all the sessions.  The course gave families the chance to meet others with similar challenges as well as receive advice and guidance from the SEND Champions.   Feedback on the new course was very positive and the new Early Adventurers will now be running in Family Centres across Hertfordshire.

What is the Early Adventurers group?

  • Early Adventurers is a course run by the Family Support Service SEND Champions, and families can be referred by their Health Visitor or other professionals. 
  • Early Adventurers is for children who have an identified or emerging special educational need or disability (although children do not need a diagnosis to attend). 
  • The sessions have the feel of a 'stay and play' group with a different focus each week including physical fun, sensory exploration, speech and language and independence skills. 
  • During the sessions the SEND Champions will support your child’s play and learning, and offer information, advice and guidance to you as parents.
To find out more about Early Adventurers contact your Health Visitor

 

Sue Smith

Sue Smith
Emerging Needs Manager
High Trees Family Centre

 

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We will have the skills to do the job or signpost elsewhere when needed.

Family Support SEND Champions are well trained and they know who is the most suitable person to help if they are not able to.  They signpost to local support groups and other professionals with expertise and knowledge to help you and your child.

Green tick 40x40px We will recognise the strengths and abilities of children, young people and young adults and we will build on these.

We adapt the activities in the Early Adventurers group to meet the needs and interests of the children attending. 

Green tick 40x40pxThe views of the child and young person and family will be at the centre of everything we do.

We continually review the The Early Adventurers group, listening to the views of parents and children.  We co-designed the group with parents and we will continue to build on your ideas.