Attention Birmingham: Building a Sustainable Whole-Setting Approach for Children with Additional Needs
The Early Years Developing Local Provision (DLP) project is delighted to be working in partnership with Attention Autism to build a sustainable approach for children in the early years with emerging social, communication, and interaction needs.
The Early Years Developing Local Provision (DLP) project is delighted to be working in partnership with Attention Autism to build a sustainable approach for children in the early years with emerging social, communication, and interaction needs.
*This blog is based on information from the Attention Birmingham project outline from Attention Autism 2022.
The Attention Birmingham project is designed to give early years leaders and their practitioner teams the information and practical expertise to develop inclusion experiences. The project presents ideas combined with practical strategies in workshops supported by coaching sessions.
What is the rationale for this project?
Children with social communication difficulties struggle to engage and may not readily respond to overtures from the staff to play or talk and this undermines staff confidence.
The neurotypical peer group find the children confusing, interact less and gradually give up. It can be relatively easy to identify that the child is different but knowing what to do about it is more complex.
What we know…
Diagnostic pathways vary in accessibility and can involve long waiting lists.
Practitioners express concern but feel they cannot call on programmes written for a different child and worry they lack the knowledge to move forward.
Autism awareness training and advice from visiting specialists is available but settings must refer individual children, wait for visits, and manage the child in the meantime.
Practitioners are willing and often highly motivated to support a child but have difficulty converting advice into strategies that are practical, and do-able, in a mainstream setting.
Visiting professionals may be recommending the same strategies leading to duplication of precious resources without effectively leading to successful application.
Practitioners are already busy and there are challenges in building the level of practical expertise needed to individualise interventions and weave manageable strategies across the early years community.
It requires confident practitioners to introduce changes that might not give immediate results.
It takes experience to understand the impact of autism and anticipate the way an autistic child may think or respond.
The fall-back solution is frequently to provide high levels of 1:1 and allow the child long periods of child-led/free play, where the child follows their own agenda with limited interaction with adults or peers.
A new way!
The building of practitioner expertise takes time and new ways of working need to be nurtured into everyday working practice if they are to become established in a sustainable, whole-setting approach.
When intervention is embedded in a setting, rather than targeting a specific child, it serves the children who are currently raising concern, and those to come.
Attention Autism
The Attention Autism Programme was specifically developed to produce a practical framework for staff to apply strategies based on autistic learning strengths in small group sessions.
The programme is based on offering an ‘irresistible invitation to learn’. Using this idea activities are designed to be fun or fascinating as well as opportunities to develop attention, social interaction, communication, and group learning skills.
The delivery of the programme builds practitioner confidence and expertise in the use of core strategies, making generalisation of the strategies to situations outside the group easier.
In the project, practitioners are supported in identifying how the strategies introduced could be used at other times in the day in coaching sessions, ensuring changes are practical and doable for that practitioner in their setting
Attention Birmingham in practice
The Attention Birmingham programme includes 40 early years settings across the city and is supported by members of the District DLP teams, colleagues from the Area SENCO Team, the Communication and Autism Team, the Educational Psychology Service, and the Early Years Consultant team.
Settings identify two practitioners and six children to work with. Managers and practitioners are supported to gain parent consent, undertake initial assessments, and agree targets to work on throughout the programme.
The settings are divided into groups and attend online workshops, along with feedback and coaching sessions based on video of group activities that practitioners record in their own setting.
The programme takes practitioners through the stages of the Attention Autism approach and practitioners are encouraged to practice the strategies and activities in the gaps between sessions.
How is it going?
The first group of 20 settings started the Attention Birmingham programme in January 2023 and are already seeing the impact on the children in their setting, as well as an increase in staff knowledge, understanding, and ability to implement the approach effectively.
The second group of 20 settings are nearing the end of the programme and feedback is positive so far.
Reflections and feedback
Some colleagues have shared their reflections on the personal and professional challenges of videoing sessions and receiving feedback from the tutors.
Several commented that they found it difficult to watch themselves on video and that it put them outside of their comfort zone; many had never experienced this level of detailed professional feedback on their practice before.
However, nearly everyone commented that whilst this process was challenging at times, through the coaching and feedback from the tutors, they feel increasingly confident in their practice and that it has been an extremely worthwhile process.
Some leaders shared that they thought they understood the approach as they had been aware of it before the course, however, having completed the programme they were now confident in understanding the detail of the stages and the rationale behind the strategies. This in turn has built staff confidence and deepened their understanding, knowledge, and skills enabling more effective use of the strategies and positive impact for the children in the setting.
“The Attention Birmingham training is going well so far. The children all seem to enjoy it and don’t want the sessions to end. They get very involved and look forward to the sessions when we have them.”
“This training is wonderful for all children and will be used with everyone within our setting.”
“Attention Birmingham has been a big hit at our school. The two members of staff taking part in the training are really enjoying the program and are enthusiastic to deliver the sessions and see the impact it has on the children in their sample. Other staff are now looking forward to learning how to use it within the rest of the nursery.”
“I will be mindful of the interactions I have with children of all needs and also this training will reflect on my activities with children.”
“Use all we have learnt about stage 1 bucket to the last stage and using it daily with our children who are non-verbal. Going for the visual first and then communication. Using the right language with the stages. Putting into practice in daily routine with all children.”
“I have a better understanding of non-verbal children to go with visual first, instead of communicating first. Having an interesting, engaging activity will get the children’s attention for either short periods of time or longer.”
“This course has really helped us to cement good practice for children with additional needs. We are already seeing a positive impact on our learners. Thank you!”
“I have found the Attention Birmingham training to be very informative and enjoyable. It has given me a greater understanding of the development of attention skills and practical ways to develop these through the staged approach.
I liked the way that Attention Birmingham is engaging for children and how it develops their motivation to want to be involved in group activities alongside considerations of how social pressures can be reduced. The modelling in the approach is carefully and thoughtfully developed alongside reduced prompts that children could become reliant upon.
It was fun, engaging and carefully scaffolded training led by skilled practitioners, and I look forward to seeing the approach used in early years settings.”
What’s next for Attention Birmingham?
Many of our DLP teams have also undertaken the course and will be able to share elements with you through outreach support and network events in the future.
We will be training two lead practitioners who will be able to continue to offer the full Attention Birmingham training in the future, so watch out for more information about training opportunities in 2023/24 or email us to express your interest.
Developing Local Provision Celebration event – so what?
As Phase 1 of the Birmingham Early Years Developing Local Provision (DLP) project comes to an end, the early years sector across the city came together to celebrate the achievements so far.
Written by Clare Williams – DLP Central Co-ordination partner
As Phase 1 of the Birmingham Early Years Developing Local Provision comes to an end, the early years sector across the city came together to celebrate the achievements so far.
The event at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Monday 3rd July 2023 was not simply an opportunity to meet and cement the positive relationships that have been built through the project, but also had a clear focus on what difference the work has made to children, families, and early years practitioners across the city.
Where did the project start?
The Early Years Developing Local Provision Project (DLP), funded as part of Birmingham’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) strategy, started in January 2022 to empower the sector to work collaboratively to develop a local programme of support for children with emerging needs and their families.
Through consultation with the early years sector, three broad objectives emerged to ensure a strategic and cohesive plan was developed that met local needs and support a city-wide approach:
Objective 1: To improve early identification and support for children with additional needs by increasing the number of children that have access to a practitioner with a level 3 SENCO award
Objective 2: To build knowledge, skills and practice across the sector through coordinated professional development and networking opportunities
Objective 3: To improve early identification and support for children with additional needs by the creation of a virtual district inclusion partnership hub in each of the 10 districts
The Celebration event started by reminding everyone of the context that we are working in and the size of the city, and therefore the task that we had undertaken together!
With nearly 75,000 children under 5 across Birmingham and more than 900 early years settings and providers this is an ambitious project, building on the existing good practice and partnerships but also exploring new ways of working together to support children and their families.
Where are we now?
Attendees at the DLP Celebration event, 3 July 2023
Nearly 200 colleagues from private, voluntary and independent (PVI) nurseries, maintained nursery schools, primary schools, childminders, children’s centres, speech, language and occupational therapy teams, local authority teams, and other interested people came together to share their reflections on the difference that being involved in the Early Years DLP project has made to the children and families they work with, as well as their own professional development and the work of their setting.
At the point of the event, we know that the following have been involved in the project so far…
More than 1,380 individual practitioners
67% of all PVI settings
77% of Children’s Centres
100% of Maintained Nursery Schools
21% of childminders
Plus 27 Primary Schools, who are part of the Primary DLP projects across the city and have also been involved in the Early Years DLP project
There are more than 13,500 children in settings across the city with a practitioner that has undertaken DLP funded professional development
This data, and the information shared about specific parts of the project, is based on the information from the end of May 2023 and we know that there has been more work through the summer - so watch out for the end of project figures as we anticipate that this will be even higher.
Sharing the Impact
Throughout the morning, the district strategic leads and partners guided attendees through the range of activities that have been happening and the impacts of this work so far.
Level 3 SENCO Award
Colleagues from the Area SENCO Team and Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) that had led the Birmingham Level 3 SENCO Award bespoke programme shared that more than 90 practitioners had gained the award.
We all celebrated their hard work and achievements as they collected their certificates!
Practitioners collect their Level 3 SENCO Award certificates at the DLP Celebration event, 3 July 2023
This means that 38% of settings (PVI and MNS) plus an additional 8 childminders or practitioners from Children’s Centres in the city now have a qualified SENCO, an increase from 10% before the project.
There are now more than 3,300 children in settings with a practitioner that has undertaken the DLP funded Level 3 SENCO qualification.
“It has given me lots of other ways to support the staff and parents in our setting. Which will then ultimately support the children. It has helped me to work with the staff in making sure that all teaching is inclusive.”
Attention Birmingham
Lorraine Scott from Attention Autism joined us to share her thoughts on the Attention Birmingham project. She shared the evidence of change in practice across the 40 settings, and colleagues from central support services and district outreach teams, that have been involved so far.
Lorraine Scott presents the Attention Birmingham section and practitioners collect their certificates at the DLP Celebration event, 3 July 2023
This setting-based approach to supporting children with emerging social, communication, and interaction needs is an internationally recognised programme. It has impacted directly on at least 240 children through the Attention Birmingham training programme and settings involved tell us that they have been using the approach with other children in their settings too.
There will be a detailed evaluation report at the end of the project. We will also be training two lead practitioners in order that we can continue to roll out the programme in the future.
“This training is wonderful for all children and will be used with everyone within our setting. I will be mindful how the interactions I have with children of all needs and this training will impact my activities with children”
“I have found the Attention Birmingham training to be very informative and enjoyable. It has given me a greater understanding of the development of attention skills and practical ways to develop these through the staged approach.
I liked the way that Attention Birmingham is engaging for children and how it develops their motivation to want to be involved in group activities, alongside considerations of how social pressures can be reduced. The modelling in the approach is carefully and thoughtfully developed alongside reduced prompts that children could become reliant upon.
It was fun, engaging and carefully scaffolded training led by skilled practitioners, and I look forward to seeing the approach used in early years settings.”
District Stay and Play sessions
This part of the project was unique in each district, building on existing services and partnerships with providers to work alongside them, as well as setting up new provision in response to identified needs.
Across all districts the partnership with the SEND Therapy Team (Speech & Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist) has had a positive impact for many children and families across the city.
Universal Stay and Play sessions have enabled children and families to access high-quality early years activities, supported by experienced practitioners. Timely support and advice have ensured that pathways to meet children’s needs have been established.
Feedback from partners and families about the Stay and Play sessions were very positive.
We heard from several partners, including Birmingham Forward Steps and the SEND Therapy Team, as well as via video and feedback from some families.
Outreach Support
In Developing Local Provision, each district partnership group identified the need to be responsive to the needs of local settings and providers. Recognising the challenges for settings and providers to attend meetings, an outreach offer was established in response to questions and to ensure every setting had access to support in a timely manner.
Outreach workers visited and offered a range of advice and guidance on inclusive practice. A record keeping and quality assurance process was also established, and feedback from settings and providers has been very positive about this part of the project.
Outreach Support presentation at the DLP Celebration event in Birmingham, 3 July 2023
Not only were members of the District DLP teams recognised and thanked for their work, but they in turn also thanked every setting and provider who had been part of the project as without everyone opening their doors and their minds, making connections and sharing practice, the project would not have had the impacts for the children that practitioners described.
Level 2 Working with Babies and Young Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Being able to offer a level 2 qualification was only possible because of the knowledge and commitment of the Level 2 trainers.
We worked with School Improvement Liverpool to train 11 people across Birmingham. This was the first time that School Improvement Liverpool had trained practitioners in this role and we were excited to offer the Level 2 course across our city, led by practitioners from the sector, as well as build capacity to offer this in the future.
Level 2 Working with Babies and Young Children with SEND presentation at the DLP Celebration event in Birmingham, 3 July 2023
The Level 2 course offered practitioners working directly with babies and young children an opportunity to build their knowledge, understanding, and skills within a supportive environment, either online or in person.
119 practitioners have undertaken this qualification and have not only been supported through the course by the trainer but also by the assessors from Jarvis Training Management (JTM).
It means that nearly 3,500 children are now in a setting with a Level 2 qualified person. Managers and SENCOs tell us that this has ensured early identification, support, and effective use of more inclusive approaches and strategies for children in their care.
“There are many children with SEND at my setting that I can apply my new knowledge with and also share what I have learnt with my colleagues to support these children.”
“This will enable our setting to have the confidence, knowledge and the understanding to deliver an inclusive and welcoming preschool. We have already put in to practice several actions to support our children through small intervention groups.”
Makaton
Working in partnership with Birmingham Community Healthcare, we were able to offer Makaton Level 1 as part of our professional development pathway. The course was offered in each district, as well as at a central location on a Saturday, to ensure that childminders could also access the course.
Makaton presentaion and audience participation at the DLP Celebration event, 3 July 2023
Through the programme, 189 practitioners were trained and 128 settings with up to 5,424 children in them now having at least one practitioner with a Level 1 Makaton qualification. The feedback from the Makaton tutors and participants was extremely positive and many are looking to continue to study for the next level.
This session ended with a sign-a-long session and brought smiles to everyone’s faces reminding us of why we do any of this work – for the children of Birmingham!
Well, it wouldn't be an early years event without a little sing-a-long would it?! 👐🚍
— Birmingham Early Years Networks (@BEYNetworks) July 3, 2023
Everyone was in fine voice 🗣️🎶@MakatonCharity #WheelsOnTheBus #Birmingham #EarlyYears #DevelopingLocalProvision pic.twitter.com/FrSy6W2l8X
Sharing your thoughts and feedback
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Early Years Developing Local Provision Project so far!
Everyone who attended the DLP Celebration event was invited to share their feedback about the impact of the project so far, using a QR code to access a short feedback form. The link was also sent out to everyone who took part in any of the DLP-funded courses, plus more widely across the city over the last two weeks.
Over 130 people responded and we’ve collated some of your thoughts and feedback in the infographics below (or download the feedback as a PDF).
12,043 children have been impacted so far by the DLP project
1,526 practitioners have been involved with the DLP project, so far
Some of the suggested priorities for Phase 2 of the DLP project
Looking ahead
Lindsey Trivett closed the day by announcing that funding for Phase 2 of the DLP project has been secured
In the final presentaion of the day at the Celebration event, Lindsey Trivett, Head of Early Years, Childcare, and Children’s Centres at Birmingham City Council, shared that there had been a review of Phase 1of the project and the good news that the funding for DLP Phase 2 has been agreed!
There will be further communication to the sector about the project very soon.
In the meantime, if you have any comments about the Early Years DLP project please email us (DLP@birminghamearlyyearsneworks.org).