Sen Code Of Practice And Caf

[Guest]

Hi all

 

Does anyone know how the CAF fits in with the graduated response described in the 2001 SEN Code of Practice. Does it replace it or run alongside it - and if so at what stage does it slot in?

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Starburst

[HappyMaz]

I'm no expert, but as I see it the CAF is the document that co-ordinates the responses of all the agencies involved with supporting the child and family. So the setting's 'graduated response' as mentioned in the Code of Practice would run alongside, as I understand it. I think of the CAF as being the centre of a spider chart, with each agency (and their individual approaches to the care/develoment of the child) being a different 'leg' of the spider.

 

But then I haven't actually had any CAF training, although we do have a CAF for a child in our group.

 

So I'll be very interested in what the experts on here have to say!

 

Maz

[Gezabel]

I am certainly no expert! but I do know that if a child's additional needs have been identified and are being met it is not necessary to implement a CAF.

 

I did some on line training and the scenario given was of an 8yr old who had difficulties in school relating to his disruptive behaviour. The school, parents and Ed. Psych. were working together and there had been some improvement of late. The question was 'the school realise there is no CAF in place what should they do?' The answer was 'nothing, there is no need for a CAF at this stage'. The explanation was that the child had behavioural difficulties that had been identified and were being successfully addressed.

 

Not sure whether this helps or not!!

[Guest]

That sounds pretty much in line with what we heard on our CAF training.

[Guest]

Thanks for all of your replies on this. I asked my SENCo today and she said that CAF only kicks in if you need to refer to more than one agency or professional so eg if you just want to refer to a speech therapist a CAF would not be necessary, although it would be classed as 'early years action plus' under the SEN code of practice 'graduated response'.

 

thanks again for your help.

[Marion]

We have to complete a CAF for any referral

[Sue R]

I can see why 'the powers that be' might want that, as you're in a school, but on my CAF training we were clearly told that a need met by a single agency would not require a CAF assessment.