A NURSERY for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has already made a ‘significant impact’, despite being open for just two months.

Charity Dingley’s Promise opened the nursery in West Howe in April, with BCP Council.

The service offers targeted, child-centred activities for children with SEND, aiming to address the huge demand for additional support for children in the area.

It also provides a family support outreach service with coffee mornings and stay and play sessions, as well as holiday playschemes.

The opening of the new service followed growing issues in the early years sector for children with SEND.

A report from Coram found that only six per cent of local authorities believe they have enough spaces for children with SEND in the early years.

Thirty-five per cent of settings report turning away children with SEND or offering reduced hours, according to the report.

The council said it is committed to working with the charity to provide early intervention and family support to improve the provision for children with SEND in the conurbation.

"Despite only being open for a short while, it is clear to see the impact Dingley's Promise Bournemouth is having on the community,” Amy Treglown, centre manager said.

“We have over 40 children on our family support caseload, alongside 11 children who are accessing the centre, which is fantastic in just a matter of weeks.

“The early intervention we are providing for these children will be imperative to their long-term development, life experiences and educational journey and we are such a proud team to have been making this much of an impact already.

“We are excited and prepared to continue to support as many families as we can, and to see the long-term effects of such a vital service in our area."

Dingley’s Promise chief operating officer, Lee Friend, added: “We are thrilled that our centre is now open, and we are working closely with Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole’s Early Years & Family Hub teams to ensure that we can support children with SEND and their families through both our centre and outreach family support.

“We have had such a warm community welcome and really looking forward to the future and being part of their community.”