Health visiting is focused on providing an effective, collaborative approach to SEND provision which keeps the needs of babies, children and families at the centre - improving outcomes and reducing inequalities. When adequately resourced, health visitors provide an important part of the solution in ensuring that families get good, joined-up support. The benefits of an effective health visiting service accrue to numerous government departments, contributing to a whole system response to improve SEND provision across the whole SEND pathway including primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and family support.
For an overview of health visiting’s role in SEND, please see our evidence submission to the SEND Inquiry (published March 2025).
iHV Resources
📃 Good Practice Points and Parent Tips
Developed in collaboration with topic experts, health visitors, and other professionals, our resources draw on the latest available evidence at the time of publication. Each resource is produced through a robust quality assurance process and peer reviewed to ensure accuracy, relevance, and strong alignment with health visiting practice.
Oral health - Understanding the oral health needs of babies and young children with special educational needs and disability
Good Practice Point
🔎 Factographics
Autism in the Early Years
This factographic, funded by NHS England and co-designed with professionals and families, shares useful information and resources to support parents and carers who have children in the early years, who they think may have autism. It also supports professional learning and understanding of autism in the early years, including the important period pre-diagnosis.
19 June 2025 - Improving the lives of babies and children with SEND
Webinar recording including ‘Toilet Training in 4 Steps – A Toilet Skill Development Programme’
Changing Conversations: Autism & Supporting Behaviour Ambassador
🏷️ Cost: From £265
🕒 Duration: 1 Day
👥 Suitable for: Health Visitors (inc. Specialist Health Visitors) and Skill Mix
Motor Development Programme
🏷️ Cost: From £240
🕒 Duration: 5 Hours
👥 Suitable for: Health Visitors and Skill Mix
External Resources
Oral health in children with SEND - Developed by the iHV in collaboration with Healthier Together.
