New early years centre for SEND children opens in Penhill
It doubles the support available across Swindon
A new early years centre has opened in Swindon.
It's located in a repurposed nursery building on the site of the Everleigh Centre in Penhill and is set to support eight children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Between the new service and the Saltway Centre in Middleleaze, there is now one early years centre on each side of the town.
Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said, “I’m incredibly proud to see the opening of this new specialist early years centre in Penhill. It represents a real investment in our youngest children with SEND and their families, providing not only tailored support but also a safe, welcoming space to connect with our residents.
“Early intervention can make a huge difference in a child’s development and this centre will help ensure more families can access the right help at the right time. I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing this much-needed resource to life.”
The £600,000 redevelopment follows the Portage model and is officially registered with the National Portage Association.
This means that the centre works closely with parents, other professionals and the child’s regular early years setting to help each child do their best.
The early years centre features a soft play area, a sensory room, a playroom with age-appropriate books and activities and a space where parents an wait and connect while their child is in a group.
Koral Averies’ four-year-old daughter participated in groups at the Saltway Centre.
“They’ve helped us open doors that we just wouldn’t have been able to walk through”, she said.
“They helped us with the diagnosis – my daughter now has an autism diagnosis. They also helped us with the early bird programme which is strategies and things that we implement at home.”
“Her skills with playing, building blocks and everything like that has just grown and it has put her in such a great stead for school.
“And it’s really important for SEND to have a place like this because you don’t know where to turn. It’s a very isolating experience, so this is going to help so many families and this is what the world is crying out for, so it’s great that this is opening up here.”
Alongside the on-site support, staff at the centre include a group of Portage Teachers who visit families at home to support children with more complex needs.