The Early Years Panel aims to combine the functions previously carried out by CDT and the Pre-school Inclusion Support Panel by improving co-ordination and planning for birth to four-year-olds (up to school age) with special needs or disabilities and moving towards greater integration of service delivery for children and families
- Act as a single point of reference for those who have concerns about any child, aged 0 to 4 (up to school entry) in the city who appears to be presenting with significant
- Ensure that multi-agency assessment of a child’s needs are co-ordinated and, with permission from parents/carers, share information relevant to the child’s needs
- Jointly plan appropriate advice, intervention and provision in support of the child and family
- Monitor the needs and progress of children and review arrangements being made to support the child and the family
- Monitor and review the arrangements being made to support the child’s transition into school in the reception year
- Maintain an overview of the needs of cohorts of children emerging across the city in order to inform strategic planning of services and provision.
Objectives of the Panel
The Panel convenes on the first Tuesday of every month each year with the exception of August.
- Receive referrals from the Child Development Centre, Community Paediatricians, Health Visitors, Portage Visitors and any early education settings and health professionals involved with the child who is identified with significant special needs.
- Identify specific needs of individual children by commissioning further assessments from appropriate professionals, including the Educational Psychology Team, or seek further information on the child’s needs, including parental views, in order to provide advice on strategies and interventions for individual children
- Recommend placement at nursery settings with specialist provision based on information received from a range of professionals, in line with parental preference.
- Where appropriate, and in line with the existing criteria, agree additional support to named children with social and emotional difficulties as determined by the KSI Primary Behaviour Support Team for transition into Reception Year.
- Where appropriate, and in line with the existing criteria, agree additional support to nurseries for youngsters with SEND.
- The Panel will review the progress of the children before they start school
- Liaise with the SEND team and Inclusion Support Panel with regard to pre-school who have severe, long term or complex needs that may require and EHC needs assessment.
Please note that the Early Years Panel does not coordinate Two/Three Year Funding.