Planning Documents
Any child or young person who requires additional support should have a plan to address their needs and improve their wellbeing. This could be a single-agency plan (Universal Wellbeing Plan) or a multi-agency plan (Child's Plan) co-ordinated by a lead professional.
GIRFEC promotes an integrated and co-ordinated approach to multi-agency planning. It looks to practitioners to work in accordance with legislation and guidance but also expects agencies to think beyond their immediate remit, drawing on the skills and knowledge of others as necessary and thinking in a broad, holistic way.
Reviewing a child or young person’s progress should be an essential part of a Child’s Plan. It will be useful to revisit the Resilience Matrix as part of the review, while also revisiting the five key GIRFEC questions in considering a child or young person’s wellbeing needs. Ensuring the full use of the National Practice Model leads to the action required to improve wellbeing for the child or young person and their family:
What is getting in the way of this child or young person’s wellbeing?
Do I have all the information I need to help this child or young person?
What can I do now that is needed and appropriate to help this child or young person?
What can my agency or organisation do now to help this child or young person?
What additional help, if any, may be needed from others?
Wellbeing Concern Form_Aug 2021 V1.docxWellbeing Concern Form
The Wellbeing Concern form should be used by all staff to record and raise wellbeing concerns which may need further assessment or action.
Children, young people and parents may have concerns that they bring to the attention of practitioners and this form should be used to capture these.
The Wellbeing Concern form should be shared with the child and young person's Named Education Contact. This should allow them to analyse themes, emerging risks and take appropriate action.
"A concern can be an event itself, a series of events which affects the attainment, wellbeing or potential wellbeing of a child or young person e.g. missing appointments for health checks; living in a family where a parent may be misusing drugs or alcohol, or changes in appearance or mood."
The Named Education Contact should note on Pastoral Notes that a Wellbeing Concern Form has been received and the action taken.
Schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings should have processes in place that allows them to monitor, track and review Wellbeing Concerns for both individuals and also overall so that emerging themes can be identified and addressed.
Universal Wellbeing Plan_ Aug 2021 V1docx.docxUniversal Wellbeing Plan
The Universal Wellbeing plan is used at the Universal level of our Child's Planning Framework.
It is put in place when:
Regular classroom based interventions have not resolved the wellbeing concern(s) and there is a need to record more detailed assessment and planning.
There is a need to consider alternative interventions available within the school, increase the number of interventions or be more flexible and creative in the interventions currently offered.
A single agency response is in place.
Child-Young Person's Plan SEPT22.docxChild/Young Person's Plan
The Child/Young Person's Plan is used at the Additional and Targeted levels of our Child's Planning Framework.
It is put in place when:
Previous interventions via a Universal Wellbeing Plan have not resolved the wellbeing concerns.
Further assessment and interventions are required from an agency/agencies outwith education and there is a need to co-ordinate the planning.
A multi-agency response is in place.
All Looked After and Accommodated children and young people should be considered for a Child/Young Person's plan. If evidence suggests that they do not require one at the current time then this should be recorded in Latest Pastoral Notes.
Child-Young Person's Plan Guidance for Completion.docxChild / Young Person's Plan - Guidance for Completion
This document can be used to support completion of the Child and Young Person's Plan.
Child Plan - Consent to Share Form v1.0.docxChild Plan - Transition Out With Scotland Consent Form v1.0.docxChild's Plan - Consent and Information Sharing
Informed consent to share information contained in Child's Plans should always be sought from the child / young person and their families (i.e. those with Parental Rights and Responsibilities). These forms are to be used for that purpose.
The first of these form is the Child's Plan - Consent to Share Form. This is required if information is being shared with other external organisations outwith East Lothian Council.
The second of these is the Child's Plan - Transition Outwith Scotland Consent Form. This is to be signed if a child or young person is leaving Scotland for education elsewhere.
Positive Support Plans (PSPs)
A Positive Support Plan aims to provide all staff, including supply or new staff working with a child or young person, with sufficient knowledge to assist them in reducing the risk of behaviours escalating to crisis point.
A Positive Support Plan is developed to support all staff working with the child or young person.
It is put in place so that staff are aware of:
bridge builders e.g. strengths, interests which may help the member of staff engage the child or young person positively;
potential triggers;
early warning signs of anxiety or distress;
de-escalation strategies;
strategies/key tasks/language which should be avoided and;
any agreed restrictive physical intervention (TEAM TEACH) techniques.
Positive Support Plan Documents
Positive Support Plan Blank Alt Layout Oct 2019.docxSchool Positive Support Plan (Blank)
Positive Support Plan ELCC.docxEarly Learning & Childcare Positive Support Plan (with exemplar statements)
Positive Support Plan Blank.docxEarly Learning & Childcare Positive Support Plan (Blank)
IEP.docxIndividualised Education Plan (IEP)
The IEP is used for children and young people who require modifications to the curriculum to allow them to access learning opportunities.
It is put in place when:
A child or young person's needs have been assessed, usually as part of a staged intervention process, and a plan is needed to individualise some or all of their curriculum.
The IEP is a framework for all of those directly involved to work together to agree, pursue and then review appropriate targets in relation to the areas of the curriculum which need to be individualised for the child or young person.
Inclusion and Wellbeing Risk Assessment July 22.docxInclusion & Wellbeing Risk Assessment
An Inclusion & Wellbeing Risk Assessment can be used to identify supports and mitigations required for individual children and young people aims to reduce the risk of harmful behaviours.
It should be developed and agreed by the full 'team around the child'. Copies can be uploaded onto Sphera.
CSP Process flowchart v1.1.docxCo-ordinated Support Plan (CSP)
A Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) is a statutory plan for children and young people who need significant additional support with their education.
It is put in place when there is a need to establish longer term targets and provides a framework for professionals from different agencies to work together in support of children, young people and their families.
See Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
Please contact your link Education Support Office for further advice.
CSP Supporting Documents
Lettter A(1) - Letter responding to CSP Request.docxLettter A(2) - Letter starting CSP Review Process.docxEnquire Factsheet- Co-ordinated Support Plans.pdfConsent to Share Form.docxF1-Criteria for a CSP Assessment Tool v2.0.docxLettter B - Letter requesting information from agencies (send with F2).docxF2 - Agency information for CSP decision making v1.0.docxLettter C - Letter to invite to CSP drafting meeting.docx
SMART Planning
"Planning for children and young people needs to be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound)."
When creating a SMART plan, ask yourself the following questions:
Does the plan give details on who, why, where, which, what?
Is the plan clear in what we are trying to achieve?
Does the plan say how I will measure each part?
Does the plan clearly show who is responsible for each part?
Are the expectations in the plan appropriate and realistic in regards to the needs of the child or young person?
Are the expectations in the plan appropriate and realistic in regards to the needs of the family?
Does the plan take into consideration the specific risks identified and needs of the child, young person and family?
Does the plan clearly show when I expect each stage to be completed?
Have the parents and the child or young person had their say with regards to the plan?
Is the plan signed by myself, the parents and the child or young person involved?
Childs-Plan-Checklist-SMART.pdfSMART Planning Checklist
Aberdeenshire Council
GIRFEC-Wellbeing-web-creating-SMART-outcomes.pdfGuide to SMART outcomes
East Ayrshire Council
Prompt Powerpoint for SMART planning.pptxHow Good is Your Planning?
East Lothian Council
Other Planning Formats
Child Protection Plan - a social work plan for children and young people who require to be kept safe and may be on the child protection register.
Looked After and Accommodated Care Plan - a social work plan for children and young people who are subject to a compulsory supervision order that determines where they live - see the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009
School Health Care Plan - for children and young people with a medical condition who may require medical treatment in school.
Young Carers Statement - a holistic statement of assessment and needs of Young Carers based on the National Practice Model - see section 12 of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016