There are six children’s centres in Warrington that offer a variety of play based learning activities for young children (aged 0-5, and up to 10) and their families.
Any child, whether they are accessing an early years setting or not, can use their local children’s centres. Further information on the groups available including contact details and the centre timetables, can be found on our children's centre webpage.
Early years SEND support (previously Portage) is a home visiting service for children under school age with Special educational needs and disabilities, or a developmental delay.
In Warrington, the service can be referred to if the child is not accessing an early year’s setting.
They will work in partnership with other professionals including health, to ensure support is in place for the child and their family. Additional to home visits, the service also offers weekly play sessions the family can access at various locations across Warrington.
If you are unsure if your child has a delay in their development, the Foundation Years website has useful guidance and information. The “what to expect, and when” booklet on this website has been written as a guide for parents, to share what they should expect with their child’s development in the early years. If your child is not attending an early years setting and you have concerns around their development, you may speak to your child’s health visitor. They will be able to support you in accessing other services to support.
A professional supporting may offer to complete an early help assessment in partnership with yourself. The purpose of the assessment is to gain information from yourself around your child and family and identify if further support may be needed. Parent/family views are key throughout this assessment and when completed there will be a team around the family meeting. You will be asked who you would like to attend and it is a chance for everyone to sit down together and look at how they can best support. The professional may also discuss a referral to other services, who may be able to offer support.
A referral can also be made to the Child development centre (CDC) by using an ‘Under 4 complex case referral’, or the Neurodevelopmental pathway.
Any professionals working with the child e.g. health visitor, or the early years setting can make the referral, if they have identified a delay and feel the child would benefit from further support.
Between the ages of two and three years old, if a child is attending an early year’s setting their key person will review their progress and share the information with parents. This will focus on 3 main areas – Communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. If a child is not attending an early years setting the review can be completed by the child’s Health Visitor.
For further information please contact: