Needs-Based Early Years Support: Why SEND Provision Shouldn't Depend on Parental Employment

The article challenges current early years funding models that tie support to parental employment rather than children's developmental needs. Dr June O'Sullivan, CEO of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), highlights the BRIDGE Project as an exemplar of how targeted SEND provision can deliver transformative outcomes for children and families when allocated based on actual need rather than bureaucratic criteria. Drawing on evidence from the BRIDGE Project, O'Sullivan makes the case that early intervention for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) requires sustainable funding mechanisms that recognise the additional costs and expertise required. The project demonstrates that when early years settings receive appropriate resources to support children with complex needs, the benefits extend beyond individual children to strengthen families and reduce downstream pressures on statutory services. This intervention comes at a critical moment for local authorities grappling with rising SEND identification in the early years and constrained budgets. The argument for needs-based allocation speaks directly to cabinet members responsible for children's services, suggesting that prioritising SEND support in early years settings represents both better value for money and improved outcomes compared to crisis interventions later in childhood.