BETTER ASSESSMENT BETTER PLANS BETTER OUTCOMES NatSIP Policy Group

Starting assumption An Education, Health and Care Plan should be as good as, if not better than, a statement.

What does ‘better’ mean? An increased focus on outcomes Children having their needs rigorously assessed and identified Parents having confidence in the process and assessment Parents having communication with professionals early in the process Lamb Report (2009)

A parent’s comment (Lamb Report 2009) ‘Parents need to have much more input into the process......I’m often asked to accept things by professionals who do not seem to take my opinions and observations into account. There needs to be more listening to the parent and less leaping to conclusions about parenting skills....’

Working towards the EHCP Gather and evaluate existing information Request the additional information and assessments required Collate and analyse professionals’ summaries Draft EHCP

The second assumption No matter how technically brilliant the template for an EHCP may be, the individual child’s EHCP will only be as good as the information with which it is populated.

The importance of assessment ‘A focus on the quality of assessment will improve the quality of outcomes’. Ofsted 2010: A statement is not enough

The importance of assessment ‘The quality of a statement will be significantly determined by the quality of advice submitted during the assessment process itself, including contributions made by parents and by children and young people themselves’. DfE (2010) Guidance on Improving the quality of statements

Starting points for NatSIP work on assessment (cf. Medway) To identify as part of a single assessment process : what information should be gathered and reviewed the potential sources of this information.... (....jargon free and preferably on 2 sides of A4!!)

Better assessment, better plans, better outcomes framework Purpose: To provide a multi-disciplinary framework for the assessment of the need of a child or young person with sensory impairment.

So that.... Outcomes are improved

The Framework format Information required and possible sources Questions to ask after information gathered for: Education Planning Health Planning Social Care / Family Support Planning The views of (a) the CYP and (b) the parents should be included when considering the questions Speech, language and communication

Assessment and information gathering summary sheet To aid professionals present the information they have been responsible for gathering, in a jargon free way, using a common format. (See page 6 of document)

Points for clarification Comments Discussion Questions

A possible format for an EHC Plan for C&YP with SI Reflects the content / format of the summary of information gathered sheet the minimum content of an EHC Plan as in Draft SEN Bill.

Draft Bill – EHC Plan sets out the child’s or young person’s SEN the outcomes sought for him or her the special educational provision required by him or her Any health and social care provision of a prescribed description required by him or her.

Next steps.... Continue to consult on the draft frameworks to get views on: Minimum information and assessment requirements to inform the EHC Plan. Possible template for an EHC Plan for Sensory Impairment (low incidence)