Dingley’s Promise: Early Years Inclusion Programme
Birmingham Early Years and Childcare providers; Birmingham has been one of the Local Authorities chosen to participate in an exciting new project and we need you to help make it a success.
Dingley’s Promise is a registered charity delivering early years support to children to thrive and reach their full potential. The Dingley’s Promise Early Years Inclusion Programme is a five-year project funded by Comic Relief. The project aims to increase the number of young children with SEND accessing early years and childcare places through:
Partnership with Local Authorities
Meaningful parental engagement
A national Steering Group
A comprehensive and extensive training offer
What Does This Mean for Birmingham?
Birmingham has been selected as one of ten local authorities to undertake the project, creating the opportunity for greater inclusion in the early years and increasing the numbers of children with emerging/identified SEND accessing early years and childcare places.
The free training is available to all early years and childcare settings (including nurseries, childminders, maintained nursery schools and early years registered school settings) so we want as many practitioners in each setting to take up the training.
All of these courses are available to anyone who wishes to access them, including parents and all professionals supporting children with SEND.
The Training Offer
The training programme consists of the following courses:
Introduction to Early Years Inclusive Practice
Managing Behaviours That Challenge
Early Years SEND Transitions
Having Difficult Conversations with Families
The Voice of the Child
Additional courses will be developed according to the needs of the sector.
The courses are a combination of workbooks, videos and activities. They are provided on an online self-guided study basis allowing learners the flexibility to complete the modules at their own pace, making it easier to fit the courses into busy schedules. Learning is assessed through the learners' experiences rather than a formal assessment.
How To Register
You can register for the training here: Early Years Inclusion Programme – Dingley's Promise
Each practitioner will need to register individually and there is no deadline to register (but we want you to sign up as soon as possible!) If you have any questions or if you experience any challenges with registering please email training@dingley.org.uk.
The Dingley’s Promise Training ‘Mark of Achievement’ for your setting
By signing up to the Dingley’s Promise Early Years Inclusion Programme, settings can now achieve a Mark of Achievement.
The Mark of Achievement recognises early years settings that are dedicated to transforming the lives of children with SEND through strengthening their inclusive practice by embracing the training programme.
To qualify for the Mark of Achievement settings must meet the following criteria:
Sign up to the Dingley’s Promise Early Years Inclusion Programme
Settings with 4 practitioners or more: 75% of staff members will have completed the ‘Introduction to Inclusive Practice’ course along with 2 additional courses of their choice
Settings with less than 4 practitioners (e.g. childminders): The lead practitioner will have completed the ‘Introduction to Inclusive Practice’ course and 2 additional courses of their choice
When your setting has achieved the above, please notify our training team via email on training@dingley.org.uk.
Once the course completions are verified you will receive a certificate, a window sticker to display in your setting and Dingley’s Promise notepads and pens to celebrate your achievement.
*Please note the Mark of Achievement now replaces the previous kitemark award