Integrated Care Northamptonshire: Early Identification and Notification Between the Health Service and Local Authorities for Pre-School Children

Context

Some children with additional needs and disability can be identified from birth or at an early age. These families will have access to universal health services such as midwives, health visitors and GPs. In many cases these children will also be receiving additional specialist health services from hospital or community teams e.g. Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy. Health professionals who are working with these families are ideally placed to identify preschool children who are likely to have special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) and to discuss this with their parents and carers. There are a number of duties and responsibilities for Health which are outlined in the Children & Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and notifying the local authority (North Northamptonshire Council or West Northamptonshire Council) of children under compulsory school age with SEND is a key priority amongst these. 

Purpose

When a health professional notifies the local authority that a preschool child may have SEND this process is called early identification The purpose of the notification is to make the local authority aware of preschool children with SEND and to ensure they are able to access the right support arrangements at the right time. The data provided via the notifications will also inform strategic planning within North and West Northamptonshire and assist with mapping of projected need for specialist school places and the capacity of specialist Education, Health and Social Care services. Notification data will support joint planning and commissioning of services between Integrated Care Northamptonshire (ICN) and North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC). 

Process

1. Health professionals who identify preschool children who have or may have SEND should have a discussion with the parent/carer about the needs of their child. 
2. Consent will be sought prior to any notification being made to the local authority.
3. The child’s special educational needs or disability will be outlined in the Early Years SEND Health Notification Form and supporting evidence can be provided.
4. The notification form should be emailed to the specified North or West Northamptonshire team.
5. A copy of the notification form should be saved in the clinical record.