Our Best Start Local Plan 2026-29

Improve early identification of children who may require extra support to achieve the GLD and prepare for future learning 

Why is this important? 

• timely identification of additional support needs increases the effectiveness of early intervention, maximising the opportunity to improve child health and development outcomes

• children and their parents/carers are supported with early language, speech and communication

Our progress in the last 12 to 24 months: 

• delivered high completion rates for health visitor contacts at 6-8 weeks and 12 months and additional contacts introduced from September 2025 

• ELIM-I is now a mandated assessment as part of every development contact at 2 years to support early identification of communication needs

• multi-agency SEND thresholds are well-embedded across our early years and Reception settings

• use of Early Years Inclusion Fund to make termly awards of up to £500 per child to help address 'emerging needs' where these create barriers to learning 

• restructured the Early Years 0-5 SEND Team comprising our Portage, Early Years Area SENDCO and specialist teaching roles to provide a continuum of support 

• improved the Early Years Autism Diagnosis Pathway, with more timely collaboration between Autism Care Co-ordinators and the Senior Portage Team  

• introduced the 'Stepping Up' guide and App to support children with additional needs and their families manage key transition stages

We will drive progress towards improved Best Start and GLD outcomes by: 

1. Using ELIM-I data to identify children at age 2 years requiring extra support and developing a targeted package of intervention based on improved information-sharing with early years providers. 

2. Mapping the current speech and language provision and developing clear, joined-up support pathways.  

3. Piloting the Early Years Passport from April 2026 to improve information-sharing between health partners and settings, supporting a more robust 2-year-old check and smoother transitions. 

4. Embedding the extra, universal Health Visitor contacts at 3 to 4 months and pre-school stages. 

5. Increasing frontline Family Hub capacity by 72 hours per week to provide an increased outreach function - see also Priority 1.  

We will measure this by: 

• HDFT 0-19 data on statutory visits and targeted contacts

• Family Hub MI data on registration and participation rates 

• Data on Early Years Inclusion Fund and Early Years Pupil Premium take-up 

• Gateshead Early Help System Dashboard

• Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) data  

Test and learn: Early Years Passport

We will test implementation of the Early Years Passport - an online platform which encourages collaborative partnership working to identify the needs of children early and plan actions to support learning and transition. The portal includes a robust assessment checker (child development milestones) and progress tool from 6 months to the end of the Reception year.

Test and learn: Early identification of moderate support needs

We have clear, established pathways for children identified as requiring specialist support following their contacts with a health visitor up to and including their review at 2 - 2.5 years. We aim to explore the needs identified by the ELIM-I framework at 2 - 2.5 years to identify the 'Monitored' cohort of children (above universal but below specialist) who may require extra support and to develop a timely and effective support pathway for these children.