Early years SEND Request for Involvement

Children should be experiencing a delay of 9 months or more in their development in two or more areas.

RfIs can be made at any time of the year, but for children who are in their pre-school year who will be moving on to school, it should be done before the summer term.

After this time RfIs will only be considered for exceptional circumstances such as children new to the area.

RfIs cannot be made for children where parents/carers have chosen to defer/delay their entry to YrR until later in the year.

The setting SENCO or manager needs to fully complete the 'Request for Involvement' form identifying:

• the child's strengths and interests
• the child's needs
• the outcomes being worked towards
• parent's or carer's and setting's concerns
• the actions taken to date.

The following supporting evidence must be also be provided:(requests will be delayed if essential supporting information is not included)

• Other professionals form
• Up to date developmental tracker / detailed EYFS tracker with at least a baseline assessment and recent update
• An evaluated targeted learning plan (TLP) and a current TLP; including evidence of the strategies used within the setting

The following supporting evidence should be provided if available:

• Individual personal provision map; including the additional provision offered to support the child and the reasonable adjustments made to practice and provision.

The specialist teacher will contact the setting following the receipt of the RfI to discuss it further.

Possible next steps:

• telephone consultation and signpost to other agencies
• telephone consultation and advice to setting
• RfI visit for individual children

As part of the RfI visit, specialist teachers will observe the child, review their assessment/tracking information, liaise with practitioners and the setting SENCO and feedback to parents as part of the visit.

Following an RfI visit, specialist teachers will provide a report with advice and next steps for practitioners.

Following discussion with the specialist teacher the setting SENCO/manager or practitioner will feedback to parents/carers and discuss any appropriate next steps identified/recommended.

Possible outcomes of a request for specialist teacher involvement visit

In addition to the recommendations and advice for setting practitioners and parents, possible future involvement from the specialist teacher may include:

• no further action
• signposting to other services
• signposting to training/workshops
• follow up contact
• request for short term involvement of a higher level teaching assistant (rapid response)
• ongoing involvement

The role of the specialist teacher is to support the setting to support the child.

Where a child is looked after (CLA) it would be necessary to discuss the issues or concerns leading to the decision to complete a Request for Involvement with the child's social worker as well as relevant carers and, where appropriate, parents.

It will also be necessary to identify who is able to give consent to the request for involvement such as a parent, foster carer or social worker. The child’s status as looked after should be identified on the RfI form.