Early Years Sen Keyworker

One child. The right support. A world of difference.

Every child deserves to feel included.

To take part.

To make friends.

To be understood.

And to have someone alongside them who notices what they need and helps remove the barriers in their way.

As a SEN Keyworker at the YMCA Fairthorne Group Andover, you’ll provide dedicated 1:1 support to a child with additional needs, helping them participate fully in nursery life and get the most from every day.

This is a role built around relationships, patience, consistency and trust.

Because sometimes the difference between a child being present and a child truly belonging is having the right person beside them.

You’ll be paired with a child who may have physical, learning, sensory, emotional or behavioural needs.

Your job isn’t to separate them from the rest of the nursery.

It’s the opposite.

You’ll help them join in.

Take part in activities.

Build relationships with other children.

Develop confidence and independence.

Communicate their needs.

And experience nursery in a way that works for them.

You may also sometimes support a wider group of children where additional supervision or support is needed.

You’ll:

• provide consistent 1:1 support for a designated child
• help them engage with activities and play alongside their peers
• adapt experiences so they can participate as fully as possible
• encourage communication, confidence and independence
• champion the child’s individual needs
• build a strong and trusting relationship with them
• work closely with Early Years colleagues to provide consistent support
• maintain clear communication with parents and carers
• complete appropriate daily handovers and records
• support agreed behaviour strategies
• follow individual care and support plans
• support personal or intimate care where required
• support with medication where appropriate and in line with agreed procedures
• use appropriate manual handling techniques where needed
• raise safeguarding, health and safety or wellbeing concerns promptly.

At the end of each day, you’ll help make sure families know how their child has been, what they’ve enjoyed and anything they need to know.

Because good SEND support depends on strong communication between everyone around the child.

It’s about helping them do as much as possible for themselves.

That might mean giving them extra time.

Breaking something into smaller steps.

Changing how an activity is presented.

Helping other children understand how to include them.

Recognising when the environment has become overwhelming.

Or simply knowing when to step back and let them try.

The goal isn’t to create dependence.

It’s to build confidence, participation and independence in a way that is right for that individual child.

For this role, you’ll need a Level 3 Early Years or Childcare qualification and experience of supporting children with disabilities or additional needs on a 1:1 basis.

You’ll also need a good understanding of safeguarding and experience of supporting behaviour.

Experience of working with children with SEND from babies to age five, Paediatric First Aid and previous personal care experience would be helpful.

But beyond the experience on your CV, we’re looking for somebody who is:

• patient and calm
• caring and dependable
• observant
• comfortable adapting their approach
• confident communicating with families and colleagues
• able to build trust with a child over time
• respectful of dignity and individual needs
• able to stay positive when progress happens in very small steps
• committed to helping children participate rather than simply supervising them.

Some of the biggest achievements in this role may look very small to somebody else.

You’ll know exactly how important…