Plymouth Early Years Forum. An update: April 2011

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1 Plymouth Early Years Forum An update: April 2011 Final version: For implementation from September

2 Plymouth Early Years Forum (PEYF): an update Background The development of an early years forum in Plymouth arose from consultation between the Plymouth Early Years Inclusion (PEYIS) and the Plymouth Psychology (PPS) in 2005 in light of the Every Child Matters agenda. Since that time significant shifts have occurred locally in the delivery of services for young children with additional needs with the introduction of the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) delivered through the Children s Integrated Disability (ChIDS). Alongside this, recent structural changes in service management core to the forum s delivery have occurred which require consideration. Moreover, the coalition government s recently published Green Paper ( Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability ) gives further support to the notion of bolstering early identification and intervention through multi-agency provision for children with additional needs alongside a continuing emphasis on high quality setting-based provision. To this end, the present document aims to provide an overview of an adapted PEYF delivery model in light of these changes. Purpose of the forum As a brief overview, the purpose of PEYF is: To provide carefully planned and monitored collaborative work and support across children s services with parents or carers and children To work collaboratively and supportively with parents or carers to promote parental understanding of and involvement in their child s development To offer early identification and assessment of children s needs linked to planned intervention(s) at the very earliest stage To promote continuity of support for children from birth into school To contribute toward developments in collaborative services for children To support inclusive practices for all children across early years provision To streamline communication processes and strengthen review procedures and accountability for all children s services 2

3 In practical terms the functions of the forum are now broader than in the initial implementation in November Support offered will include: systemic support to settings around inclusive practices (via the Early Years and Educational Psychology ) which links to the city council s Quality Improvement Programme for early years settings; guidance for settings at the Early Years Action stage of the Code of Practice for SEN (2001) (via Locality Inclusion Groups); identification of children who may require close monitoring and intervention at Early Years Action Plus of the SEN Code of Practice; co-ordination and the offer of involvement of key local professionals to support the child and family at Early Years Action Plus; strengthened links between PEYF and the ChIDS SPOC via a coordination role and facilitation of effective transition planning between settings and schools consistent with local protocols Composition of the Forum The Forum will be chaired by a Senior Educational Psychologist (Early Years), the Manager of the Plymouth Early Years Inclusion (PEYIS) or deputies on an alternating basis. Membership of PEYF will typically include: Minute Taker (Plymouth Psychology ) Manager of PEYIS (ChIDS representative) Senior Educational Psychologist (Early Years) Representative from the Infant Mental Health Team Representative from PEYIS Inclusion Advisory (IAS) (Advisory Teacher for Additional Needs) Representative from the Early Years Health visitor SPOC Co-ordinator Representation from Parent Partnership Locality Inclusion Groups (LIGs) Co-ordinator 3

4 Representative from Children s Centres Representative from Children s Social Care In order for the meeting to be quorate, a minimum of five forum members need to be present at each meeting. The Chair has the authority to cancel the meeting if there are insufficient representatives. It is envisaged that representatives from different groups would rotate on an annual basis where appropriate. It is the duty of all representatives to: bring information from colleagues within their service on the children to be discussed ensure that their colleagues are aware of action that needs to be taken subsequently bring information back to the Forum from their colleagues on the review date. Administration The Forum meeting will continue to be conducted in two key sections. The first part will focus on children who are due for review (including any unscheduled reviews ), and the second part will discuss new requests. The meetings will take place once a month from 9am to 12pm. Preparation of the new requests and reviews will continue to be developed collaboratively between administrative staff at the Inclusion Advisory and Plymouth Psychology. Every forum meeting will be minuted by a representative from Plymouth Psychology. Procedural elements It is vital that parents or carers are fully informed of the process, and give their consent to their child s details being discussed at the Forum. A completed, signed Common Assessment Framework Form (with PEYF as a specified action ) or a Forum Request for Support form is to be used to alert the forum of a child who may need additional services or support. Moreover, where the request comes from a pre- 4

5 school setting evidence of clearly planned and reviewed intervention around the child must be included as indication of support at Early Years Action of the Code of Practice for SEN. Requests for support to the forum can be made from a broad range of groups who have involvement with children in the early years (aged four and under). Typically, these may include parents or carers, children s services professionals, setting staff and health professionals. Process A key structural change to PEYF from September 2011 will take the form of a reduction in the number of meetings. At present, one week before to each multiagency forum, a forum planning meeting takes place. In the interests of efficiency this meeting will be deleted. The implications of this are that: - a check for signed consent will need to be undertaken on receipt of the request documentation by administrative staff at the Inclusion Advisory (where this does not exist, the paperwork will be returned to the sender using a standard letter) - support through the Locality Support Group (LIG) programme will now be agreed at the forum as opposed to the planning meetings ( direct requests to attend LIG from settings will continue to be accepted). LIGs will now run through four groupings in line with recent plans for configuration of local services; these are South West, North West, Central and North East/Plympton and South East/Plymstock. As before, the forum continues to operate a Plan-Do-Review model whereby following ratification of service involvement at the monthly multi-agency forum meeting, actions are carried out and these are reviewed at following meetings. The process and the range of service outcomes are outlined in the flowchart below: 5

6 Requests via completed CAF* or PEYF Request form Parents/Carers Pre-school settings Professionals (e.g. Health Visitors) Children s Centre SPOC (via SPOC Coordinator / Administrator) Multi agency discussion and action confirmed Plymouth Early Years Forum (monthly multi-agency meeting) Direct requests from setting Possible outcome Locality Inclusion Groups Educational Psychology Plymouth Parent Partnership ChIDS (e.g. Sensory Support, CITEY, PEYIS - Portage, IAS) Children s Social Care Early Years Health Visiting IMHT (Infant Mental Health Team) Following LIG intervention further support from PEYF may be requested following implementation of agreed actions for at least one term Review Scheduled or unscheduled ** Notes: *Where PEYF is a specified action. Unsigned requests (no consent for consideration returned to sender). **Requests for placement at an Assessment Nursery (6 in city with 50 places available) to be considered as part of PEYF review process. It is envisaged the original PEYF request form will be phased-out by August

7 Plymouth Early Years Forum Meeting Dates 2011/12 Location: Conference Room, Mannamead Centre, 15 Eggbuckland Road, Plymouth, PL3 5HF. Tuesdays 9-12am 13 th September th October th November th December th January th February th March 2012 Transitions Forum Meeting (9am - 12pm) Friday 16 th March location tbc 17 th April th May th June th July 2012 Chairperson of Forum Meetings will be a Senior Educational Psychologist or Manager of Plymouth Early Years Inclusion Submission of paperwork: Submission of requests to Plymouth Early Years Forum to be received by Plymouth Early Years Inclusion, Jan Cutting Healthy Living Centre on the Friday preceding the next forum meeting (e.g. paperwork for the forum of must be received by 4pm on Friday ). 7