Once upon a time, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision was seen as a specialist add-on in any care setting.
Things, thank goodness, have changed. Now, it needs to be the standard, in every setting. Including temporary, mobile and event crèche settings.
It’s a shift we’ve witnessed firsthand over the years. Our team has welcomed children with every type of need, from those with formal EHCPs (Education, Health and Care plan) to children simply overwhelmed by the noise, pace or unfamiliarity of the event environment. Many arrive without a diagnosis. Some have never been left in childcare before. All need the same thing. To be understood, supported, and included.
In Beyond the ADHD Label, I explored how neurodivergence often expresses itself in traits we all share. It’s not about ticking boxes or labelling, it’s about building environments where all children feel safe and every parent feels confident leaving them.
This isn’t always easy in a temporary setting due to its very nature, but it is absolutely possible and it is always worth it.
Event childcare is rarely predictable. Venues change. Timelines are tight. Parents don’t always communicate the extent of care their child may need. Children often arrive for what is their first experience of childcare in an unfamiliar setting to be left with people they have never met before. Arrival in a busy hall having already experienced the stress of travel and overstimulation is not the most calming of introductions.
Venues aren’t always child-friendly, with adult toilets, unfamiliar foods, noise levels that disrupt the usual sleep routines, that can over stimulate children – especially those with neurodiversity.
For older children, the pressure of being left with other teenagers with diverse personalities and the age-old need to ‘fit in’, can cause anxiety to trigger and dysregulated behaviour that requires specialist support.
If a child has a ‘personal evacuation plan’, then this needs to be discussed with the venue beforehand to make sure there is a clear procedure.
If children have particular sight or mobility impairments, then risk assessments need to reflect this.
All of this makes supporting SEND in event settings a unique challenge.
And yet, we’ve seen time and again that thoughtful planning, a welcoming environment and fully trained, adaptable, experienced staff can turn such a situation around every time!
At Nipperbout, we try hard to build SEND awareness and provision into every service we offer, not because it’s requested, but because it’s needed.
From understanding neurodiversity and providing emotional regulation support, to recognising sensory processing and non-verbal communication, our team members are trained.
We use activities to support dysregulation, visual aids, fidget tools and adaptable play areas to help children feel safe and in control.
Our setups include calm corners, weighted cushions, noise-reducing headphones, affirmation cards, colouring books and tents or dens. Sometimes a quiet space under a table is the most magical of solutions.
Many of our clients , who recognise the importance of SEND provision, are open to providing a small separate area as a break out room for children who sometimes need to be away from the main crèche for a time to regulate.
Where appropriate, we match children with a consistent Purple Person throughout the event helping build trust, ease transitions, and reduce masking or shutdowns. In order to do this, we do need to be aware of the need before the event.
We work with parents and carers to understand each child’s needs, triggers and preferences ahead of the event. This way we can plan activities in advance and match children to team members. Post-event, we often help parents in gaining formal EHCPs by offering our professional observations of the child during their time with us.
Sometimes it’s not about big changes, rather calm awareness and small tweaks. A quieter voice, a side-by-side approach or just giving space. More than anything we never ‘manage’ a child, instead we support them to belong, alongside everyone else.
We’ve had parents tell us their child’s experience in our care was ‘life-changing.’
One parent from a recent conference said:
“Your team’s care played a vital role in our successful participation. My child struggles in new spaces, but he came back the next day smiling. I wouldn’t have attended without that support.”
And for organisers we prove that SEND provision isn't a risk, rather it is a reputation builder and a firm statement that your event is inclusive.
It demonstrates awareness. It shows foresight. It says we care.
If you’re planning childcare at your event, ask the following
• Are your staff trained in SEN and neurodiversity?
• Do you offer quiet spaces or sensory-friendly zones?
• Can you provide 1:1 support if needed and pre-communicated?
• How do you communicate with parents or carers in advance?
• Can you adapt activities or schedules in response to a child’s needs?
If you’re offering childcare, it’s incredibly likely that some children will have support needs. It’s also likely their parent might not tell you.
Regardless, your team needs to be ready.
Because how a child is treated can be the difference between a family returning the following year, a speaker feeling welcome and the word of mouth and social media coverage around the event.
Inclusion isn’t a bonus. And when done right, it’s the most powerful thing you can offer.
If you’d like help designing an inclusive childcare experience, whether it’s a full crèche, a Stay & Play or a quiet zone, we’re here to help.
