The term 'outside agencies' means specialist professionals who are, or could be, involved with the child and his family. Among these are:

• LA support services for learning difficulties, speech and language difficulties, visual and hearing impairment, emotional and behavioural difficulties and physical disabilities.

• Advisers or teachers with knowledge of information technology for children with special educational needs

• the child or educational psychological services

• social services and child protection services

• medical services including health visitors, paediatric nurses and/or paediatricians, nurses, child psychiatrists, GPs, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and hospital-based counsellors

• private and voluntary organisations.

 

Establishing a relationship between other professionals can really help children access the early support they need.

 

There are some instances where the views and skills of other professionals who work in specialised areas are needed, such as Speech and Language Development (SALT), Educational Psychologists, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or Early Years and Thurrock Council. When this need arises, the staff are required to ensure the following guidelines are met.

 

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Procedure:

• Any concerns regarding a child's welfare or development must be discussed with the child's key person and the Manager, on a need to know basis.

• Any concerns must be recorded in a written format and the member of staff and Manager sign and date any documents.

• Any information recorded, kept and shared needs to be honest, clear and relevant and with the parents/carers permission and the appropriate professional contacted.

• Staff and Management are required to co-operate and follow any further instructions given by the professional contacted.

• The child's parents/carers must be informed and involved during every stage of referral.

•  staff must maintain a sympathetic and professional standpoint throughout the process.

• Staff must ensure they follow the correct policies on information sharing and any information shared to be strictly on a need to know basis.

• Staff must maintain the settings confidentiality policy at all times.

• Staff must be aware of their own personal attitudes and beliefs and ensure these do not affect working in partnerships at any time.

• Access to other professional services must not be restricted from children, parents/carers for any reason.

• Staff must ensure they uphold the settings inclusion policy at all times and ensure anti-discriminatory practice is used.

• When working with other professionals, staff must keep paper records up to date.

• Staff must also maintain regular contact with other professionals to ensure next steps, learning aims; action plans are relevant, up to date and suitable for purpose.

 

 

The staff team are also committed to working with other Nurseries and Schools, Social Services, Thurrock Early Years and Childminders. It is particularly important to work with other Early Years settings when a child attends more than one setting, as information sharing is vital to providing consistent and high-quality care and education for all children

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We work in partnership with local and national agencies to promote the well-being of all children.

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