Stage 1 (universal assessment and intervention)
Assessments
Some form of assessment is undertaken if a need for support in education and health services is identified by:
- the child or young person
- their parent or carer
- an adult working with the child or young person
Education and health services are known as the universal services because everyone has access to them.
The assessment may be quite simple and will include a discussion with the child and parent about any measures that need to be taken.
Advice may also be sought from other colleagues, or a referral may be made to a more targeted service provided by health or education, such as:
- speech and language therapy
- support for learning
- support from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Team
Stage 1 assessments mainly happen in school and health settings or at the child's home.
When parents or carers are involved in any meetings, they may bring supporters if they wish.
Parents and carers (and children/young people, where appropriate) should also be given copies of any action plans that have been drawn up as a result of a meeting.
Interventions
For children/young people at nursery or school, interventions may include:
- trying different teaching approaches
- keeping a behaviour-monitoring diary
- developing an individualised curriculum and/or referral to a school's in-house pupil support base
- short/medium-term intervention from community-based health practitioners (e.g. paediatric, speech and language therapy or occupational therapy)
- individual or group work with a child and family support worker
Within a community setting, interventions offered to children/young people may include:
- a youth/community worker spending time working with a young person whose behaviour is challenging
- a school nurse or health visitor offering a drop-in advice service on health issues
- a parenting skills group
- individual support to families through home visiting
Reviewing outcomes
We review assessment and intervention outcomes and decide what the next step should be, such as:
- taking no further action
- devising, carrying out or reviewing an action plan
- modifying an action plan, continuing with the intervention and reviewing again
- consulting with colleagues again or referring a child to a more specialist service
Further assessment
We may decide that other professionals need to contribute directly to the further assessment and planning of interventions for a child's additional support needs.
This is known as a Stage 2 Additional Assessment and Intervention.