SEND Graduated Response Toolkit
Communicating with parents
The first conversation a parent has with your setting SENDco should be a positive experience. It is during this conversation that any concerns may be raised.
Consider including an introduction to your SENDco as part of welcome/induction visits.
What to do if parents agree with concerns raised.
- Key worker asks family to share what works well at home- to use in setting
- Ask for regular chats
- Continue termly monitoring of development/CHaPs/tapestry etc
- If concerns continue key worker liaises with SENDco
- SENDco suggests a chat/review and explain how it will be recorded. Show parents a 4+1document and ask if they want to complete some before the chat/review. Some parents like to have information before they decide what to share.
- Continue assess-plan-do-review cycle. (in setting)
- Discuss further referrals with family as appropriate.
- Once other professionals begin involvement complete an SEN support plan – update regularly (transitions, funding requests, for education health care plan submission etc)
- Parents are provided with POINT information and contact details
What to do if parents disagree with concerns raised.
- Key worker continues to share child’s strengths and areas to develop
- Key worker highlights the areas of development staff currently focussing on
- Termly reviews can be opportunities to share progress – or highlight where limited progress is evident.
- Record on contact sheet follow up chats with family
- At termly development reviews, discuss progress, highlight areas for development- explain your views on the child’s development
- Ask for regular chats/updates
“I didn’t really understand what A’s key worker was concerned about but the SENDco explained the support he would be getting. I think it made more sense to me after the second review meeting (4+1 review). It was when they talked about the strategies they used and how A was making progress that I Iunderstood what they were doing” ()
Parent feedback, Oct 18