This resource for early years providers is part of a collection created by Childcare Works in collaboration with Dingley's Promise: Inclusive Practice in the Early Years
Dingley’s Promise is the largest specialist provider of nursery education to children under 5 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in England.
This handbook and video will provide you with information to support the practical use of the Department for Education SEND Assessment Guidance and accompanying tools (available via the DfE website).
Download the handbook: SEND Assessment Guidance
In this video, Dingley’s Promise staff demonstrate use of the guidance in practice, and show how their observations inform the assessment process and enable them to plan effective support and next steps for each individual child.
This resource is part of a collection: Inclusive Practice in the Early Years including:
- A Reflective Approach to Identifying SEND and Inclusion Handbook and Video
- The Use of Graduated Approach and Ordinarily Available Provision in Inclusive Practice Handbook and Video
- Developing an Inclusive Curriculum Handbook and Video
This collection of resources was first published here in November 2025
Find out more
Explore these other resources available on Childcare Works and created by Dingley's Promise all about SEND and inclusive practice in the early years:
- Dingley's Promise: Fostering meaningful inclusion in early years settings (Published June 2024)
- Dingley's Promise: Preparing for inclusion (Published June 2024)
- Dingley's Promise: Daily management for inclusion (Published June 2024)
- Dingley's Promise: Business planning for inclusion (Published June 2024)
- Dingley's Promise: Leadership priorities (Published June 2024)