Dingley’s Promise
Centres providing specialist support
Dingley’s Promise has three centres:
- Bournemouth (Moore Avenue, Kinson and West Howe Children’s Centre)
- Christchurch (Somerford Primary School)
- Poole (Poole Road, Branksome)
Each centre provides specialist support tailored to children’s individual needs, using personalised strategies to promote learning and development. They offer warm, inclusive environments where every child is valued, supported, and celebrated.
What the centres provide
Each of the Dingley’s Promise centres provide:
- tailored learn through play sessions (nursery placement) for children under 5, which focus on individual development through individualised group play and targeted activities
- dedicated family support for nursery children and those in the community
- stay and play sessions for families to enjoy the resources and equipment with their children
- playschemes throughout the holidays to provide respite for families, and engaging child-centred activities with the support of our specialist staff
Open sessions
Each of our Dingley’s Promise centres offer community based targeted, child-centred activities for children with SEND and can be accessed without a request form.
They offer:
- stay and play sessions where children and their siblings can make friends and play, whilst parents and carers have the opportunity to chat to the family support workers for advice or support
- coffee mornings offering an opportunity to meet and chat with other families who have children with SEND
- information sessions for families to learn more about topics such as sensory processing, potty training, sleep and healthy eating
Families can contact their local centre directly for further information, there is no need to fill out a referral form. Spaces on sessions are limited and will need to be booked in advance.
Family outreach
Dingley’s Promise family outreach service offers advice, guidance, and signposting for families of children with SEND.
A request for family support should be completed where the family would benefit from accessing one of the following.
1-2-1 Support
Dingley’s Promise family support workers can assist families with:
- emotional support
- form filling
- help with behavioural or developmental concerns
- information and activity ideas for your child
- signposting to other services where relevant
This can be in person, over the phone, by text, email or online.
Home visits
In person support for you and your child at home from Dingley’s Promise family support worker
Eligibility criteria
A child:
- must live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, be aged 0-4 years and have, or may have, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- can be accessing an early years provision alongside this offer
How to request family outreach involvement
Parents and professionals can make a referral to the service using the Early Years SEND request for support online form.
The referral must include sufficient information to show what the family are hoping to gain out of the support, including what the family feel is going well, what they are concerned about and what they are wanting support with.
This information can be provided by emailing supporting documents to eysend@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or typing additional information into the referral form.
Nursery placements
Our term-time sessions give children the opportunity to explore, experiment, and learn through play in a supportive group environment. Through fun, targeted activities, we get to know your child and identify any additional support that may benefit them and your family.
When it's time to move on, we'll work closely with you and your child's next setting to ensure a smooth transition. Children attending our sessions can also enjoy our holiday playschemes, providing ongoing opportunities to learn, play, and make friends.
Eligibility criteria for nursery placements
A child must:
- live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, be aged 0 to 4 years, and have emerging SEND needs
- not be currently accessing early years provision and it is helpful to discuss any barriers families may have experienced in accessing mainstream education
How to request a nursery placement
Parents and professionals can make a referral to the service using the Early Years SEND request for support online form.
Dingley’s Promise use the Entry Exit Pathway to structure their nursery placements, and this should be referred to when making a request for a child to attend the nursery provision.
If unsure, please contact Dingley’s Promise directly, or speak with your Area SENCO about whether a nursery provision request would be appropriate.
Additional information can be provided by emailing supporting documents to eysend@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or typing additional information into the referral form.
Contact us
You can contact the centres by emailing: