5 Signs your setting could benefit from an external SEND consultant...and why smaller settings don’t need to go it alone

Not every nursery needs a full-time Area SENCo but many still need specialist support they can trust.

That’s where an external SEND consultant can be the missing piece.

Someone who brings a fresh perspective, deep knowledge of neurodivergent needs and a commitment to building truly inclusive early years practice, without adding pressure to your stretched team.

So how do you know if your group could benefit from working with a consultant?

Here are 5 signs to look out for

1. Your team is doing their best, but feels unsure what ‘good’ neurodiversity affirming practice really looks like

Your staff are caring, committed, and want to do the right thing. But they may feel unsure how to adapt environments or respond to neurodivergent children’s needs in affirming ways. An external consultant can bring clarity, coaching, and practical guidance, helping your team move from uncertainty to confidence.

• Environment audits

• Staff mentoring

• Practical strategies that work in real-life early years settings

  
  

2. Your SENCo (s) are feeling stretched or isolated

In many small groups, the SENCo role is added on top of other responsibilities. This can leave staff overwhelmed, unsure where to turn, or simply without enough time to lead high-quality SEND provision across the setting.

A consultant can act as a critical friend and sounding board, offering support, supervision, and specialist insight. I’ve worked with SENCOs to:

• Refine support plans

• Prepare for EHCP requests

• Embed neurodiversity-affirming approaches

• Build sustainable systems, not fire-fighting ones

3. You want to be genuinely inclusive, not just meet the minimum

You’re not looking to tick boxes. You want to go deeper, to create a culture where every child truly belongs, especially those whose needs challenge the traditional mould. Neurodiversity-affirming consultancy helps shift the whole team’s mindset:

• From compliance to connection

• From "fitting in" to authentic inclusion

• From behaviour charts to co-regulation and curiosity

This work supports all children, not just those with identified SEND.

4. You’re noticing more children with social, emotional or sensory differences and want to do right by them

If you’re seeing more children with differences in communication, emotional regulation, or sensory needs, you’re not alone. But many teams feel unsure how best to support them, especially if they don't "fit the usual strategies." An external consultant can help with:

• Understanding neurodivergent development

• Adapting practice to meet individual needs

• Staff training rooted in current research and real-world experience

5. You want joined up support across multiple settings in your group

If you run more than one setting, it can be difficult to maintain consistent SEND practice, documentation, and communication. I work with small nursery groups to:

• Create shared expectations and values around inclusion

• Offer group-wide training and resources

• Provide site visits and feedback tailored to each location

• Be a consistent, trusted presence across your company

What does it look like to work with me as your external SEND consultant?

With me, it’s relational, collaborative and rooted in neurodiversity-affirming values. Support might include:

• Regular webinars or reflective sessions

• On-site visits and observations

• SENCo mentoring and supervision

• Help with policies, plans and paperwork

• Parent support

• Quality environment audits

• Team training on key topics (e.g. co-regulation, transitions, sensory support, neurodivergent play, behaviours that challenge)

  
  

It’s flexible, supportive, and tailored to what your nursery needs.

Want to hear what others have said?

"Reaching out to Cheryl last year was one of my best decisions of 2024! Cheryl has supported us on our journey to becoming a more neurodiversity affirming preschool, combing warmth and expertise but free from judgment. She created us a webinar at short notice for one of our training days and delivered a half-day in person for the next; both were extremely well received by the whole team. In between that, we’ve worked together on re-writing our SEND policy and she’s been at the end of the phone to support us through a couple of challenging situations. We’re still on a journey to becoming more neurodiversity affirming, but thanks to Cheryl we know where we want to go and have come a long way already in understanding and meeting the needs of all our children.  Most importantly the children we have focused on together are showing higher levels of well-being and involvement in the preschool and their relationships with their teachers have been strengthened". Nursery Owner

"As a nursery group committed to inclusive practice, meeting Cheryl was truly a godsend. She has provided our entire team with neurodivergent training, both in person and remotely, which has significantly enhanced our staff's knowledge and confidence. Cheryl has also delivered invaluable workshops for our SENCO team, equipping them to better support the development of our staff. Her involvement in creating a bespoke SEND policy has ensured that the message we share with parents and staff is authentic, consistent, and deeply embedded in our everyday practice. What sets Cheryl apart is her passion, expertise, and lived experience, which make her training and support both unique and profoundly meaningful. We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact she has had on our nurseries" Managing Director

"Thank you for your support, Cheryl. When I contacted you, I remember saying that I wanted to turn our inclusion and SEND provision from something I was worried about into an area of strength. We have just shared our most recent Ofsted report and am delighted to say we achieved an Outstanding with our SEND provision noted. Working with you we have seen real impact, in fact we see every day with the children who are thriving. We had our leavers’ event this morning and had some very moving conversations with very grateful parents who can see how happy their child is here." Nursery Owner

If you're an independent nursery, small nursery or childminder group looking for expert, compassionate support, without needing a full-time Area SENCo, then I’d love to talk.