Support Teams for Professionals « Openminds in Calderdale

This page is to help professionals who support children under the age of 5 and their families.

Perinatal Mental Health Team

The Perinatal Mental Health Team specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and short-term treatment of women affected by a moderate to severe mental health problems during and after pregnancy. They offer advice for women planning pregnancy who have concerns about their mental health. Click here to find out more in their leaflet

Early Years Learning and Childcare Team

We are responsible for:

Managing the local childcare market;
Funding the free nursery education entitlement for three and four year olds;
Developing the childcare workforce;
Supporting all childcare providers to develop quality practices.

Early Years Improvement Team

The Early Years Improvement team give advice, support, guidance and information to:

Early years and childcare providers;
Childminders;
Pre-schools;
Day nurseries;
Out of school clubs;
2-year-old units;
Maintained nurseries.

The Early Years Improvement Team can offer advice, support and guidance on all aspects of running an Early Years or childcare service, including:

Focus Visits including; Emotional Health and Wellbeing Audit, Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements, Learning and Development including planning, observation and assessment, observing practice, EYFS requirements.
Network meetings including; Early Years Managers, Voluntary Management Committees, Out of School Club Network, Men in Early Years, Sharing Good Practice and Essential EYFS Updates.
Starting up or expanding your childcare provision, the QISO team will offer support to new and existing providers to open or expand their childcare provision, including training perspective Childminders.
Support Tools to purchase including; Audits to support practice, EYFS Trackers, Policy and Procedure Guidance.

We work with Childcare Sufficiency and Portage and Early Years Support Teacher’s to offer a seamless service. Early Years Improvement Team work across Calderdale. To get in touch with an officer contact: Email QISO@calderdale.gov.uk Telephone 01422 394109

You can also visit the Calderdale website or the Calderdale Childcare Providers Facebook page

Portage & Early Years Support Teachers (PEYST)

The Portage and Early Years Support Teacher (PEYST) team is nationally accredited Portage home visitors and qualified teachers. They work with families and Early Years providers. This is to make sure the youngest children with SEND get the extra educational support they need.

The team gives:

Advice and support to families with children under five with additional needs, SEN and/or disability;
Advice and support to Early Years education and childcare providers for children under five with: additional needs, SEN and/or disability;
Early support through person centred key working approaches, to assess and plan for each child’s individual needs;
Support for statutory assessment processes towards Education Health and Care plans;
Advice and guidance to Early Years education providers on implementing the new SEND Code of Practice (2014);
Training:
Portage basic workshop;
Basic inclusion;
SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) roles and responsibilities; and
Early Support key working.

PEYST also work with health and care services. This is to make sure that targeted support is put in a child’s individual learning and development plan. Contact the PEYST team: Email peyst@calderdale.gov.uk Telephone 01422 392579

Or visit the Calderdale Website for the Local Offer for children with special needs or disabilities, or the Early Years SEN Support Facebook page.

Early Years & Childcare Sufficiency Team (EYCST)

Free and impartial service for parents and carers aimed at linking them with childcare and early education options in Calderdale. Signposting service for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-20 looking to access local support groups. Advice on accessing the early education entitlements for children aged 2-4. Some children could be eligible for free education. Email eef@calderdale.gov.uk fis@calderdale.gov.uk Telephone 01422 392576

Or, you can visit the Calderdale website or the Calderdale Early Years Facebook page.

Children’s Therapy Services

The team consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Therapy Assistants, all of whom have a wealth of experience in working with children with physical, sensory, speech, language and communication needs.

The Therapists work with children, parents and other relevant professionals in the most appropriate setting to help reduce the impact of their difficulty on their physical, social, emotional and educational development. All our qualified staff are registered and regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC) and have up to date enhanced CRB checks.