6.1 Effective communication

Supporting learners is a collaborative process that involves effective partnership working. The role and views of the parents, carers, and child or young person are very important. Parents, carers or someone else involved with the family (e.g. social worker, health visitor) may have brought concerns to the teacher's notice in the first instance. The involvement of professionals will vary depending on the needs of the learner.

Figure 19 highlights the range of people who may be involved in the support and identification process over a period of time, working collaboratively to support the needs of the child or young person. This is not an exhaustive list.

Figure 19 Collaborative Partnership

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Image of a circular diagram. The centre text is Collaborative Partnership, surrounded an outer circle line on which 7 circles are placed. Learner, Parents and Carers, Social Work, School staff team, Health professionals, Third sector, Local authority supports.

Figure 19 Collaborative Partnership

It is important that partners, parents and learners (age and stage appropriate) are provided with information about the entitlements and support which are available. Information is freely available through your local authority and a range of third sector organisations. You will see an overview of the staged level of intervention process of support in the following section.

It is helpful to communicate the support given to a child or young person as parents may otherwise be unaware of the range of adaptations that are routinely offered.