Graduated Pathway

Special Educational Needs support

The Opportunity Centre has its roots firmly based in giving all children the best support possible. As the parent or carer of a child with additional needs, you will know the extra understanding, support and encouragement you require. Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is there not only to support your little one as they begin their early years education but for the whole family, ensuring you feel supported at each stage of the journey.

Help is available

Graduated Pathway is Gloucestershire’s response to ensuring early help is available to all children with educational, social, emotional needs or a disability. Working within the guidance of the Graduated Pathway, our SENCO will formulate a plan to ensure the care your child receives during their early years is supported by the correct professional. The continued assessment using the EYFS framework gives us the tools to formulate a plan for the years ahead.

The journey

The Graduated Pathway involves several stages: My Profile, My Plan, My Assessment, My Plan +, leading to an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The aim of each stage is to bring together the assessment of your child’s needs from the professional involved. We can then look at the whole picture and plan for the next steps, which depend on how much support your child will benefit from. The Graduated Pathway is a journey that can change direction and it may be that after targeted input, your child no longer needs additional support. My Plan and My Plan+ are designed with this in mind, allowing us to adapt our teaching and support to whatever is relevant for each child.

Communicating with you

We are proud of the relationships we build with our families. Communication is a key factor. Our SENCO will be in touch throughout the process and remain on hand to explain development and progress. Review meetings happen each term and we are always here to answer any questions you may have.

Our support network

A list of professional services across Gloucestershire.

To offer the best possible care for children that need extra help, we have access to a fantastic support network of professionals in Gloucestershire, which includes:

Advisory Teachers

This service works with parents/carers and the setting to meet the needs of individual children and ensure their inclusion in the full range of the EYFS framework.

Children’s Occupational Therapy Service

This service addresses the needs of children/young people who have difficulties managing their activities of daily living and developing functioning skills, such as bathing, showering, toileting, dressing and eating.

Children’s Physiotherapy

This services supports children and young people with a range of conditions by providing them and their families with support, advice and physical intervention to promote optimum outcomes for children and their families.

Community Social Workers

This service provides qualified Social Workers who work with professionals to assist them in managing family situations in need of support.

Early Help Coordinators

This service supports settings with the Graduated Pathway of Early Help and Support.

Educational Psychology Service

This is a comprehensive psychology service for children, young people and their families. Educational Psychologists use their knowledge of psychology, child development and social interaction to promote development, learning and well-being.

Health Visiting Team

Health Visitors provide expert advice, support and interventions to all families with children in their first years of life. Health Visitors are uniquely placed to identify any need (including safeguarding needs) and promote early intervention by referring them to existing local services.

School Nursing Team

This service provides public health nursing for school-aged children and young people in a community setting.

SEND Early Help Advisors

This service supports and advises parents/carers, practitioners, early years providers and schools in order to promote inclusion, raise aspiration and improve outcomes for children with Special Educations Needs and Disability (SEND)

Speech & Language Therapy (Children)

A nationwide specialist service for children & young people, their families and carers. They support difficulties with speech, language, communication, feeding or swallowing.

2gether Children & Young People Service

Formerly known as CAMHS, this service provides mental health support to children and young people. They work in partnership with schools, GPs, health and social care and other services.

What’s on at the Opportunity Centre

The latest news and events from the Opportunity Centre.