Last updated: April 2026
Overview
Supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is one of the most rewarding, and important, parts of being a childminder. You don't need to be a SEND specialist to make a real difference, and you're never on your own with it. This article explains your responsibilities as a SENCO, how to make referrals, and what funding is available to help you support children in your care.
Your role as a SENCO
You are your setting's SENCO
As a tiney childminder, you are the SEND Coordinator (SENCO) for your setting. This is set out in the EYFS framework (paragraph 3.60), which states that childminders must have arrangements in place to support children with SEND, and are encouraged to identify a person to act as SENCO. As the person running your setting, that person is you.
This doesn't mean you need to hold a formal SENCO qualification. That level of qualification is expected in school settings, not childminding. What's expected is that you understand your role in identifying and supporting children with SEND, and that you take steps to get the right support in place when a child needs it.
Good to know: Childminders who are registered with a CMA like tiney, or who are part of a network, may wish to share the SENCO role between them. So if you co-mind with others, you can think about how you approach this together. |
What does the SENCO role involve?
As the SENCO in your setting, your role includes:
Identifying children who may have SEND, noticing when a child's development or behaviour suggests they might need additional support, and keeping good observations
Talking with parents, having open, honest, and supportive conversations with families about any concerns you have
Making referrals, with parental permission, to the appropriate professionals and services when needed (more on this below)
Working with other professionals, liaising with health visitors, speech and language therapists, or other specialists involved with a child
Keeping records, documenting your observations, any actions taken, and the outcomes
Accessing funding, finding out about and applying for SEND-related funding to help you support children (see the funding section below)
The 0-25 SEND Code of Practice
If you deliver funded early education places (i.e. you claim funded hours for children in your care), you are required to have regard to the 0-25 SEND Code of Practice. If you don't currently deliver funded places, it's still a really useful document to be familiar with, particularly the early years section, which sets out how to identify and support children with SEND from birth.
Making a SEND referral
You have the right, and responsibility, to make referrals
As the SENCO in your setting, you are legally able and required to make SEND referrals when you have concerns about a child's development. You don't need to be a specialist, and you don't need someone else to make the referral on your behalf. This is your role.
A note on advice you might receive: you may occasionally be told by other professionals (such as a health visitor) that you are not qualified to make a referral, or that a SENCO needs to come and observe the child first. This is incorrect. As a registered childminder and the SENCO of your setting, you have the full right to initiate referrals. If you're ever unsure about this, please get in touch with us and we can help clarify your position.
How to make a referral
Before making a referral, you should always:
Talk to parents first. You must always have parental permission before making a referral. Have a sensitive, honest conversation with the family about your observations and concerns.
Document your observations. Keep clear, dated notes of what you've observed and when. The more specific your observations, the more helpful they'll be.
Identify the right service. Depending on your concern, this might be a health visitor, speech and language therapy service, child development team, or your Local Authority's Early Years SEND team.
Common referral routes include:
Speech and Language Therapy for concerns around communication and language development
Occupational Therapy for concerns around physical development, sensory processing, or fine motor skills
Health Visitor / GP for general developmental concerns, especially in younger children
Local Authority Early Years SEND team for more complex needs, or when you need support accessing services
Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment for children with significant and complex needs who may require an EHCP
Your Local Authority's Family Information Service (FIS) can also point you to the right local services.
SEND funding
There are several funding streams available to support children with SEND in your setting. It's worth being aware of all of them, as they can make a real practical difference to the support you're able to offer.
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
What it is: a one-off annual payment for children who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and are accessing funded early education. It's designed to help you make reasonable adjustments and develop inclusive practice in your setting.
Who can access it: you can claim DAF if you have a child in your setting who receives DLA and takes up a funded entitlement place. How to claim it: you claim DAF through your Local Authority as part of the funded hours process.
Important: DAF payments must be passed directly to you in full. tiney does not charge a fee on DAF payments, in line with statutory guidance. You can use DAF to make reasonable adjustments for the individual child (specialist equipment, resources, or environment adaptations). Keep records of how you've spent it, as you may be asked to evidence this. |
SEND Inclusion Fund (SENIF)
What it is: a fund that all Local Authorities are required to hold, designed to support early years settings (including childminders) in recognising and supporting the emerging SEND needs of individual children.
Who can access it: any childminder who has a child with SEND in their setting may be eligible. The fund is particularly aimed at supporting children where needs are emerging and where an EHCP is not yet in place.
How to access it: contact your Local Authority's Early Years team or SEND team to find out how SENIF works in your area. The process varies between local authorities, but your starting point should always be your LA. It's worth asking even if you're not sure a child qualifies.
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
What it is: additional funding paid per hour for disadvantaged children aged 9 months to 4 years who are receiving a funded entitlement. It's intended to help you improve outcomes for children who may need extra support.
Who can access it: children whose families are eligible based on certain criteria, including being in receipt of certain benefits. You'll usually find out via your LA when a child in your setting is eligible for EYPP.
Important: Like DAF, EYPP must be passed to you in full. tiney does not charge a fee on EYPP. You're also required to keep records of how you've spent it, as your LA or Ofsted may ask for evidence. |
High Needs Funding
What it is: funding available for children with more complex needs who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
How to access it: this funding sits within the high needs block of the Dedicated Schools Grant and is allocated by Local Authorities. If a child in your care has an EHCP, speak to your LA about what funding may be available to support them in your setting.
tiney's SEND support for you
You're not on your own with any of this. tiney has a range of resources and support specifically for childminders navigating SEND.
Making Sense of SEND guide: a practical guide to help you understand your role and what to do when you have concerns. Available in your tiney app resources.
SEND resources section: a dedicated section of the tiney app with resources to support you in your SENCO role.
SEND Big Conversation: a community session run every other month, where you can ask questions, hear from other childminders, and build confidence. Previous recordings are available in the CPD section of the app.
1:1 SEND support: if you're supporting a child with complex SEND needs and would like more direct support, get in touch and we can arrange for a member of our specialist early years team to work with you.
Dingley's Promise training: some Local Authorities have funded free access to SEND training through Dingley's Promise. Speak to us to find out if your LA is one of them.
Useful external resources
Council for Disabled Children: resources and training for early years SEND- councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk
Dingley's Promise: early years SEND assessment guidance and training- dingley.org.uk
Speech and Language UK: free EYSEND partnership training- speechandlanguage.org.uk
Early Years Alliance: free CPD on SEND- eyalliance.org.uk
0-25 SEND Code of Practice: the statutory guidance for supporting children and young people with SEND- available on GOV.UK
Questions?
If you have any questions about your SEND responsibilities, making a referral, or accessing funding, please reach out to the Quality team at quality@tiney.co or post in the tiney Community Hub. We're always here to help.