Early year resources for children in care

Early Years and Key Stage One

Norfolk Virtual School for Children in Care (CiC) and Previously in Care (PiC) has an offer to support all internal and external partners working with Norfolk's Children in Care aged 0-8. The Early Years Advisers based in the Virtual School work across the county, with a focus on ensuring that all 0-8 children coming into care have their educational and developmental needs addressed. Norfolk Virtual School aims to promote the best quality outcomes for all 0-8 looked after children through high quality PEPs (from age 2) and careful transition planning. We work alongside our Previously in Care Advisers who can offer information, support and guidance for children who are adopted, subject to SGOs or Child Arrangement Orders.

The Virtual School Early Years Advisers offer information, advice and guidance in the following areas

A named adviser allocated to every setting where children are in care
Support to foster carers/EY settings with PEPs and accessing quality provision
Information, advice and guidance on early learning/child development
Signposting to services
Advice for early years children with SEND
The distribution of 'My Play and Discover' bags to 0-5's
The 'Watch Me Play' programme for caregivers with their babies or young children that aims to enhance child development and caregiver-child relationships.
The importance of infant mental health and how it can be promoted through signposting to key organisations such as the Association of Infant Mental Health (AIMH) and the Anna Freud Centre

Current Early Years Projects within the Virtual School

Watch Me Play Programme
Speech and Language - ECCH online training
Infant Mental Health

Watch Me Play

Catherine Sutton leads on the 'Watch Me Play!' Programme. 'Watch Me Play!' is a programme developed by Dr Jenifer Wakelyn, a child psychotherapist, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. The approach was initially developed to support babies and young children in temporary foster placements but has been shown to also benefit babies and children in long term foster care from birth to around eight years old. The Watch Me Play is an approach supporting parents and carers and their baby or young child that promotes child-led play, individual attention from caregivers, and talking with children about their play. To find out more information, please visit www.watchmeplay.info.

Virtual School lead and key contact: catherine.sutton@norfolk.gov.uk

Support for Speech and Language

Hilary Shaddock is the lead for early speech and language development and support within our team. Norfolk & Waveney Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service will be providing support for children's speech and language in Norfolk and if you would like further information about your child's speech and language development this is a useful webpage which also explains how to access their services if you have concerns: Norfolk & Waveney Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service (justonenorfolk.nhs.uk)

For further information and support about speech and language in the early years, see Where to get help if you have concerns - Norfolk County Council.

Virtual School lead and key contact: hilary.shaddock@norfolk.gov.uk

Infant Mental Health

Why is infant mental health important?

There has been a huge amount of recent research exploring the importance of infant mental health from its implications on healthy brain development to the prevention of mental health difficulties in infants and their primary caregivers. Research suggests that supporting Infant Mental Health influences the development of healthy, social and emotional relationships across life's course. This in turn has a profound impact on the long-term outcomes of children.

The government produced a report, which highlights the importance of the first 1001 days of a child's life. This report influenced the development of the Start for Life Programme across England.

From June 2023, The Best Start for Life offer was launched across Norfolk. The Best Start programme supports babies and toddlers between the ages of 0-2 and part of the offer includes parent - infant relationship and mental health. There is a focus on co-parents which includes foster carers, carers through SGO's. More information about the Best Start Programme in Norfolk can be found at Start for Life offer in Norfolk (Norfolk County Council).

Anna Freud offers some useful information and resources for both early years practitioners and carers to help them support positive mental health and wellbeing in the under fives:

For further information see For under fives | Anna Freud.

Virtual School lead and key contact : clare.lord@norfolk.gov.uk

Norfolk & Waveney Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service provides support for children's speech and language in Norfolk. If you would like further information about children's speech and language development and how to access their services visit Just One Norfolk - Speech & Language.

There is also further information and more support about speech and language in the early years at Where to get help if you have concerns - Norfolk County Council.

If you have any queries about support for CIC with SLCN issues please contact the Virtual School lead at hilary.shaddock@norfolk.gov.uk.