SIS Significant
delay meeting
milestones
SEN Descriptors: Early Years
Play, Cognition and Learning
HN Evidence of
persistent repetitive
play and restricted
interests.
Under 2 …6-12
months delay
3 years… 12-18
months delay
EA Evidence of
some delay meeting
milestones
Severe difficulties in
imaginative play
4 years…18-24
months delay
Under 3…12 months
delay
4 years….18 months
delay
Consistently losing
skills
Play, Cognition
Cognition
Play,
and Learning
Learning
and
Cognition
SIS Evidence of
frequent repetitive
play and restricted
interests
Significant difficulties
with imaginative play
Difficulties retaining
concepts over time
Child beginning to
lose skills
Key
EA Some evidence of
repetitive play and
restricted interests
Some limited
imaginative play
EA Entitlement for all
SIS Specific Individual Support
HN Higher Needs
Portage and SEN Early Years Team September 2014
Under
2yrs…more
than 12
months delay
3 years…more
than 18
months delay
4 years…more
than 24
months delay
Under 2…6 months
delay
Evidence of
significant difficulties
retaining concepts
over time
HN Severe
delay meeting
milestones
SEN Descriptors: Early Years
Social, Emotional and Mental
Health
HN
Severe changes
in play and/ or
behaviour
Persistent,
unpredictable
extremes of
demanding
behaviour which
affects the safety
of the child and
others.
Persistently
presents a
significant danger
to self and others
Severe and
persistent
difficulties in
regulating own
emotions and
recognising those
of others,
evidenced by
severe difficulties
in social
interaction.
SIS Significant
separation
difficulties that
persist
Frequent
withdrawal from
activities
Frequent increase
in anxiety level
Attachment to key
carers not securely
established
SIS
Significant
changes in play
and/ or
behaviour
Significant and
frequent
unusual
behaviours
requiring adult
intervention
Significant
difficulties in
regulating
emotions and
recognising
those of others,
evidenced by
significant
difficulties in
sharing, turn
taking and
social
interaction.
EA Short term
difficulties settling
into setting
Short term
withdrawal from
activities
Social, Emotional
EA Short term
unexpected
behaviours.
Some difficulties
regulating
emotions and
recognising those
of others e.g.
difficulties in
sharing, turn taking
and social
interaction
And Mental Health
Seeks frequent
reassurance
Key
EA Entitlement for all
SIS Specific Individual Support
HN Higher Needs
Portage and SEN Early Years Team September 2014
Significant
concerns re poor
growth, weight
gain/loss, social
and emotional
health, that
requires outside
agency input and
has an impact on
development.
HN Severe
attachment
difficulties
affecting
development
Unable to
sustain
activities
without
significant,
consistent adult
attention and
intervention
Frequent high
anxiety levels
and totally
withdrawn over
a period of
time.
Child may have
suffered acute
trauma or
abuse,
rendering them
vulnerable,
requiring a high
level of multiagency
involvement
over a
sustained
period.
HN Physical and/
or medical
difficulties that
require specialist
equipment,
adapted resources
and position
changes requiring
a high level of
adult support.
Intensive
monitoring of
physical and/ or
medical difficulties
needed
throughout the
day.
SIS Physical
and / or
medical
difficulties that
require varied
and extensive
equipment
and adapted
resources
Significant
physical and
or medical
difficulties that
require close
monitoring to
ensure safety.
Adults may need
specialist training
Continuous loss of
physical skills
SEN Descriptors: Early Years
Sensory and / or
Unilateral
hearing loss
Physical Needs
Mild hearing
loss and wears
aids
EA Physical
and/ or medical
difficulties that
require
medication or
equipment and
some adult
support e.g.
asthma, fine
motor/ gross
motor
difficulties.
HN High
levels of adult
support for
self care
needs
Close
monitoring
required
EA Not
reliably toilet
trained (age to
be taken into
consideration)
Some
difficulties with
self-help skills,
for example,
dressing, meal
times
HN Severe
or profound
hearing loss
that has a
severe impact
on
development.
SIS
Moderate
to severe
hearing
loss and
wears
aids
History of
conductive
hearing loss
Accessible
information and
support needed
where English
or signing is
and additional
language.
Sensory and/ or
Physical Needs
HN Severe
visual loss
which requires
continuous
support for
mobility and
self help skills
SIS Moderate
visual
difficulties / loss
Physical/ Medical
difficulties that put
safety and
wellbeing at
severe risk
SIS Physical
independence
is impaired
and requires
input and
programmes
from relevant
professionals
EA
Fluctuating
hearing loss,
mild hearing
loss (no aids)
EA Wears
glasses or eye
patch
Some visual
difficulties/ loss
Severe multisensory
impairment
with severe
impact on
development.
Moderate multisensory loss
requiring adult
support to teach
and manage
learning with
outside agency
input.
Some combined
hearing and
visual loss
Key
EA Entitlement for all
SIS Specific Individual Support
HN Higher Needs
Portage and SEN Early Years Team September 2014
SEN Descriptors: Early Years
Communication
.
EA Some delay
in receptive and
expressive
language
Immature speech
sounds
Some withdrawal
from others
Communication
Accessible
information and
support needed
where English or
signing is an
additional
language
SIS Significant
delay and /or
disorder in
expressive and/
or receptive
language
requiring SALT
Additional
support
required to
teach and
manage
alternative
communication
systems that
may involve
outside agency
input.
Loss of
previously
demonstrated
communication
skills
HN Severe
delay in receptive
and/ or
expressive
language
Limited
understanding of
what is said or
signed
Intensive support
to teach and
manage
alternative
communication
systems
Sustained loss of
communication
skills previously
demonstrated
Key
EA Entitlement for all
SIS Specific Individual Support
HN Higher Needs
Portage and SEN Early Years Team September 2014
SEN Descriptors: Early Years
Interaction
EA Some
difficulties
following social
norms e.g. eye
contact, turn
taking
Interaction
Some withdrawal
from company of
others and
difficulties
speaking to
adults outside the
family
Higher than usual
anxiety at times
of change
Some difficulties
following adult
direction
Portage and SEN Early Years Team September 2014
SIS Frequent and
significant
difficulties following
social norms
HN Persistent
and severe
difficulties
following adult
direction or
social norms
Inability to form
relationships
Persistent and
significant
difficulties forming
relationships
No
understanding
of social
boundaries
Significant
difficulties
understanding
social boundaries/
tolerating social
interaction
Unable to
tolerate social
interaction
other than to
get needs met
Significant and
frequent high
levels of anxiety at
times of change
Frequent and
significant
difficulties following
adult direction
Activities at a
sensory motor/
self-stimulatory
level, selfabsorbed, and
persistent
repetitive play
Severe and
persistent high
anxiety levels
requiring
intensive
support.
Key
EA Entitlement for all
SIS Specific Individual Support
HN Higher Needs