1.4. Develop a plan to meet the development needs of a child or young person in the work setting

This guide will help you answer 1.4. Develop a plan to meet the development needs of a child or young person in the work setting.

Meeting the development needs of children and young people in a work setting is a key part of supporting their growth and wellbeing. It involves observing the child, identifying their needs, planning activities, and reviewing progress. A development plan ensures that these actions are thoughtfully put together to best support the child or young person.

Developmental Needs

Developmental needs refer to the areas in which a child or young person may require additional support to grow physically, emotionally, socially, or intellectually. These needs can change with age and personal circumstances, so it’s important to address them individually.

Some typical areas of need include:

• Physical Development: Improving coordination, mobility, and strength.
• Cognitive Development: Enhancing problem-solving and learning abilities.
• Language and Communication: Supporting speech development, understanding, and expression.
• Social and Emotional Development: Encouraging positive interactions and managing feelings.

Key tools to understand these needs include observation, discussions with parents or carers, and assessments.

Steps to Develop a Plan

A structured plan makes it easier to address the support a child or young person may need. It should follow a step-by-step approach.

1. Collect Information

To start, gather as much information as possible about the child or young person. This can include:

• Observing the child’s behaviour and reactions in different settings.
• Reviewing comments from parents, carers, or teachers.
• Conducting assessments in line with frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) or Development Matters.
• Speaking to the child, if appropriate, about what they feel they need or enjoy.

Seeking input from other professionals, such as speech therapists or educational psychologists, may also be beneficial if the child has specific development barriers.

2. Identify Strengths and Areas of Need

Once you have the information, highlight what the child or young person is already doing well. Building upon their strengths promotes confidence. Then, identify areas where they may benefit from extra help.

For example:

• A child may show strong physical skills like running and jumping but may struggle with fine motor tasks such as using scissors.
• A teenager may excel academically but find it difficult to express emotions.

By understanding strengths and challenges, you can create balanced goals.

3. Set SMART Goals

Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). These goals provide clear direction and make it easier to evaluate progress.

For example, instead of saying, “The child will improve reading,” you might define a goal like, “By the end of the school term, the child will read three short books independently, using a reading list provided by their teacher.”

Each goal should focus on one development area and be realistic, based on the child’s current abilities.

4. Plan Activities

Choose activities that will support the child’s specific goals. Activities should be varied, engaging, and designed to help the child meet their development targets.

Examples include:

• For physical development: Playing simple games like catch or dance activities.
• For cognitive development: Puzzles, memory games, or matching objects.
• For communication: Storytime or encouraging turn-taking in conversations.
• For social skills: Group activities requiring teamwork, such as building something together.

Activities can be planned during formal learning sessions, free play, or daily routines.

5. Assign Responsibilities

A successful plan requires collaboration between adults involved in the child or young person’s care.

Responsibilities might include:

• A keyworker in a nursery ensuring the child participates in group activities.
• Parents creating opportunities at home related to targets set in the plan.
• Specialists delivering specific interventions, such as speech therapy.

Everyone involved in supporting the child or young person should know their role in delivering the plan. Regular communication will help align efforts.

6. Monitor Progress

Reviewing the plan at regular intervals helps track progress and identify what works or needs adjusting. This might involve recording achievements, noting any challenges, and comparing results against the original SMART goals.

You could use tools like:

• Development checklists.
• Progress charts or observation diaries.
• Feedback forms completed by the child or parents.

The child or young person should be given opportunities to reflect on their progress, where appropriate, as this promotes self-awareness.

Practical Example of a Development Plan

Let’s say you’re developing a plan for a 4-year-old in an early years setting with the following observations:

• They have delays in speech and struggle to express themselves verbally.
• They enjoy physical play and are socially confident with adults but find peer interactions challenging.

Based on this, you might develop a plan that includes:

1. SMART Goal: “By the end of three months, the child will use five new words in sentences while interacting with peers.”
2. Activities:
   • Create a small group storytime twice a week, encouraging the child to repeat key words from the book.
   • Use roleplay scenarios where they can practise greetings, sharing, and asking others for help.
3. Assigned Responsibilities:
   • You (keyworker) facilitate the group activities.
   • An appointed speech therapist provides regular language support.
   • Parents encourage peer interaction during playdates at home.
4. Monitoring Progress:
   • Record the new words the child uses weekly.
   • Gather feedback from peers’ parents or other keyworkers to observe changes in interactions.

Supporting Individuality

Every child or young person is unique. This means a development plan must be flexible and tailored to suit their individual circumstances, interests, culture, and level of understanding. Child-led approaches, where the child’s voice is considered in planning, often bring better results.

Working closely with families is particularly important. Parents and carers know their child well and can contribute valuable insights.

Legal and Policy Considerations

When developing a plan, it’s important to work within the guidance of UK legislation and frameworks such as:

• The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• The Children and Families Act 2014.
• SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) Code of Practice.

These frameworks emphasise inclusivity and seek to protect the rights of children. For instance, every child has the right to an education that meets their needs. Development plans should reflect these principles.

Keeping Records

In many settings, development plans are formally documented and shared with relevant stakeholders. Written plans are helpful because they:

• Clearly outline targets and steps.
• Help families and professionals see how the child or young person is progressing.
• Provide a basis for future planning.

Confidentiality must always be respected when sharing or storing these records. Adhere to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules to protect privacy.

Final Thoughts

Developing a plan for meeting the needs of a child or young person requires careful thought, collaboration, and regular review. It’s a process that grows and adapts with the child to ensure they have every opportunity to thrive. By observing, goal-setting, and working as part of a team, you can have a lasting and positive impact on their development.