Dingley's Promise
Dingley's Promise is a UK charity operating 12 Ofsted-registered specialist early years centres and a national training programme that supports children aged 0-5 with SEND, their families, early years educators, and local authorities across England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersNewbury, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Dingley's Promise does
Dingley's Promise is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 1137609; Company No. 07279320) founded in 1983 as a family support group at Battle Hospital in Reading by parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The organisation provides specialist early years support for children aged 0–5 with SEND through three integrated service lines: (1) a network of 12 Ofsted-registered specialist early years centres across South England, the Midlands, and the South Coast delivering Learning Through Play sessions, Family Support Programmes, and Inclusive Holiday Playschemes; (2) a nationwide online training programme for early years educators — delivered via a Moodle-based learning portal at £50 per course (some funded via the Department for Education and local authorities) — which has reached over 32,000 educators cumulatively; and (3) policy advocacy and consultancy services for local authorities and national government, including direct contracts with the Department for Education secured in 2024 and the co-development of the Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance published on the DfE's official platform. The organisation also produces a content library of SEND-specialist resources including the Reflective Framework, Early Years SEND Curriculum, family guides, and the Mark of Achievement recognition programme. Dingley's Promise employs 37 people and is led by CEO Catherine Mole MBE, who has headed the organisation since 2015.
Dingley's Promise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dingley's Promise
- Legal name
- Dingley's Promise
- Website
- https://dingley.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dingley's Promise is a UK charity operating 12 Ofsted-registered specialist early years centres and a national training programme that supports children aged 0-5 with SEND, their families, early years educators, and local authorities across England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dingley's Promise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialist Early Years SEND Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (6244), Educational Support Services (6117), Child and Youth Services (62411), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Teacher Guides, Lesson Plans & Scope-and-Sequence Resources (EDACAJAF)
Keywords
Where Dingley's Promise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newbury
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
Dingley's Promise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Charitable donations and fundraising: The charity relies on donations from individuals, corporate supporters, trusts, and statutory funders. Fundraising activities include events (ultra runs, half marathons, skydives), one-off donations, regular giving (Friends of Dingley's Promise), payroll giving, and legacy bequests.
- Department for Education direct contracts: Secured first direct contracts to work with the Department for Education in 2024, including the development and delivery of the Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance on the DfE's help-for-early-years-providers platform.
- Training course fees: Online training courses are sold at £50 including VAT per course. Some courses are funded by the Department for Education, local authorities, and SEND partners in certain areas of England. Completion window is 4 months per course.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard online training course |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Dingley's Promise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dingley's Promise delivers specialist early years SEND support through a network of 12+ Ofsted-registered centres offering Learning Through Play sessions, family support outreach, and inclusive holiday playschemes for children aged 0–5 with SEND. It also sells online training courses and provides free SEND resources, including the DfE-co-developed Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance and a Reflective Framework, to educators and local authorities nationwide. The organisation combines direct service delivery with national training and policy advocacy to drive inclusive early years practice.
Product overview
Dingley's Promise is a registered charity providing specialist early years support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The organization operates a portfolio of services including: (1) Training Courses - online professional development for early years educators covering inclusive practice topics; (2) Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance - a DfE-collaborated assessment toolkit with tools for Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Sensory and Physical, and Social and Emotional areas; (3) Centre-based services including Learning Through Play Sessions, Family Support Programme, and Holiday Playschemes across 12+ locations; (4) Resources including the Reflective Framework for settings, Early Years SEND Curriculum with four pathways, and family guides and webinars. The organization also provides policy advocacy and consultancy services for local authorities and government bodies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Training Courses Online training courses for early years professionals on inclusive practice for children with SEND, including Introduction to Early Years Inclusive Practice, Early Years SEND Transition Training, Behaviours That Challenge Training, and Leadership and Management for Inclusion. Priced at £50 including VAT per course with a 4-month access window; funded places available in some local authority areas.
- Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance Assessment guidance developed in collaboration with the Department for Education to support early identification of emerging SEND needs, covering four broad areas of need: Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Sensory and Physical, and Social and Emotional. Hosted on the DfE national platform for nationwide access by all early years settings in England.
- Assessment Toolkit Companion toolkit to the Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance providing step-by-step implementation guide, review sheets, one-page profiles, support and achievement play plans (SAPP), and SMART goals for tracking progress of children with SEND.
- Learning Through Play Sessions Ofsted-registered specialist early years sessions providing tailored developmental activities for children with SEND, including structured group and 1:1 activities and unstructured free play. Delivered across 12+ specialist centres, with children referred via local authority panels or direct enquiries.
- Family Support Programme Outreach service providing home visits, online information sessions, stay-and-play sessions, setting visits, connect sessions, and coffee mornings to help families navigate their child's SEND journey, delivered through senior family support workers across the charity's centre catchment areas.
- Inclusive Holiday Playschemes Holiday play schemes for children with SEND and their siblings providing fun activities, indoor and outdoor learning opportunities, and respite for parents and carers, delivered at the charity's specialist centres.
- Reflective Framework A reflective tool for early years settings to evaluate SEND practices and inclusion across four perspectives: Leadership, Educator Knowledge, Transitions, Educator Practice, and Environment. Includes downloadable Word templates and spreadsheets for settings to self-assess.
- Early Years SEND Curriculum A four-pathway curriculum (aligned to the four broad areas of SEND need) developed by Dingley's Promise with curriculum stages, enhancement programmes, and scaffolded learning outcomes, including provision checklists and reflective practice sheets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 32,000 educators trained nationwide through online courses
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Dingley's Promise
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Dingley's Promise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Dingley's Promise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Early Years SEND PartnershipcoreA national programme supporting professionals and parents with training, resources, and a collaborative approach to sharing learning to increase access and inclusion in early years for children with SEND. Dingley's Promise provides strategic support for transitions as part of the partnership. Partners include nasen (whole setting approach to SEN and Disability), Speech and Language UK (early identification of SLCN), Contact (working with parents in early years), Council for Disabled Children (Ordinarily Available Provision and the Equality Act), and The Early Childhood Unit at NCB (home learning environment). Funded/partnership structure not fully detailed.
- NCFEcoreNCFE is an educational charity and leader in vocational and technical learning with over 170 years of experience. The Early Childhood Unit at NCB (part of NCFE) works with Dingley's Promise on the Early Years SEND Partnership, specifically on the home learning environment component.
- nasencoreThe National Association of Special Educational Needs (nasen) is a partner in the Early Years SEND Partnership, focusing on a whole setting approach to SEN and Disability.
- Speech and Language UKcoreA partner in the Early Years SEND Partnership focusing on early identification and an early response to speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in young children, and the development of a local SLCN pathway.
- ContactcoreA partner in the Early Years SEND Partnership focused on working with parents in the early years.
- Council for Disabled ChildrencoreThe umbrella body for the disabled children's sector with over 300 voluntary and community organisation members. Partner in the Early Years SEND Partnership, focused on Ordinarily Available Provision and the Equality Act.
- Department for EducationcoreDingley's Promise secured its first direct contracts to work with the Department for Education in 2024. The organisation co-developed the Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance and toolkit, which is published on the DfE's official platform for early years providers. CEO Catherine Mole MBE has provided evidence to the Education Select Committee.
- Disabled Children's PartnershipsecondaryA major coalition of 100 organisations campaigning for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families. Dingley's Promise is a proud member, providing a platform for voices and challenging injustices.
- All Party Parliamentary Group for Childcare and Early EducationsecondaryBrings together Parliamentarians and leading members for the childcare and early education sector to promote and facilitate discussion on key policy issues. Dingley's Promise participates in APPG events.
- Children's AlliancesecondaryAdvocates for the importance of a child's first five years and the impact on their physical and mental wellbeing for life, finding ways to provide better starts through political and community channels.
- Preschool Learning AlliancesecondaryA key sector body for early years providers. Dingley's Promise works in partnership to share best practice and support inclusive early years practice.
- ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations)secondaryCEO Catherine Mole MBE is a mentor for ACEVO. Dingley's Promise is a signatory to ACEVO's 'Eight principles to address the diversity deficit in charity leadership'.
- Action for ChildrensecondaryDingley's Promise Droitwich centre operates in the WANDS family hub in partnership with Action for Children, expanding reach through shared service delivery.
- NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations)secondaryDingley's Promise is grateful to work with NCVO as part of the broader voluntary sector ecosystem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves18 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dingley's Promise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kids: UK charity providing disabled children's services including early years support, family support, and SEND-inclusive provision. Direct peer given shared specialist centre-based delivery model and family-facing services across England.
- Council for Disabled Children: Umbrella body for the disabled children's sector with 300+ member organisations. Direct peer as fellow Early Years SEND Partnership member shaping SEND policy, Ordinarily Available Provision guidance, and Equality Act compliance for early years settings.
- nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs): UK membership charity providing whole-setting SEND training, resources, and policy advice to educators. Direct peer through overlapping training programmes for early years settings, SEND assessment frameworks, and joint participation in the Early Years SEND Partnership.
- Action for Children: Major UK children's charity delivering family hubs, children's centres, and SEND-related services. Direct peer as existing Dingley's Promise partner in the WANDS Droitwich hub and as a fellow provider of regional early years SEND family support.
- Contact (Contact a Family): UK charity supporting families of disabled children, including those in the early years. Direct peer given shared family-facing SEND support services, parent coaching, and national policy advocacy in the same sector and partnership ecosystem.
- National Children's Bureau (NCB): Long-standing UK charity focused on improving outcomes for children, including the Early Childhood Unit which works on home learning environment. Direct peer given shared early years policy advocacy and Early Years SEND Partnership co-membership.
- Speech and Language UK: UK charity focused on early identification and support for children's speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Direct peer through early years SEND focus area, joint Early Years SEND Partnership membership, and overlapping training/assessment offerings for the 0–5 cohort.
Emerging players
- Ambitious about Autism: UK charity focused on education and support for autistic children and young people, including early years. Comparable in specialist SEND niche but serves a broader age range; potential collaborator or competitor as SEND reform reshapes early years provision.
- Special Needs Jungle: UK parent-led SEND information, advocacy, and media platform. Comparable as a peer voice in SEND policy discourse and family-facing content; smaller operational scale than Dingley's Promise but overlapping SEND reform engagement.
Broad incumbents
- Mencap: Largest UK charity for people with learning disabilities, providing services, policy advocacy, and family support. Broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities but with a much wider disability remit beyond the early years SEND niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dingley's Promise social profiles
Digital presenceDingley's Promise compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Dingley's Promise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dingley's Promise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Dingley's Promise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dingley's Promise M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dingley's Promise
What does Dingley's Promise do?
Dingley's Promise delivers specialist early years SEND support through a network of 12+ Ofsted-registered centres offering Learning Through Play sessions, family support outreach, and inclusive holiday playschemes for children aged 0–5 with SEND. It also sells online training courses and provides free SEND resources, including the DfE-co-developed Early Years SEND Assessment Guidance and a Reflective Framework, to educators and local authorities nationwide. The organisation combines direct service delivery with national training and policy advocacy to drive inclusive early years practice.
Is Dingley's Promise a public or private company?
Dingley's Promise is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Dingley's Promise founded?
Dingley's Promise was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dingley's Promise based?
Dingley's Promise is headquartered in Newbury, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Dingley's Promise make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Charitable donations and fundraising is the primary driver. The others are department for Education direct contracts and training course fees.
Who are Dingley's Promise's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kids, Council for Disabled Children, nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs), Action for Children, Contact (Contact a Family), National Children's Bureau (NCB) and Speech and Language UK. Emerging players are Ambitious about Autism and Special Needs Jungle. Mencap is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Dingley's Promise have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dingley's Promise.
What industry is Dingley's Promise in?
Dingley's Promise's product category is Specialist Early Years SEND Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAFAG, Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction, with a secondary code of EDACAFAJ, Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services. Its NAICS code is 6244 and its SIC code is 8351.