Welcome to The Gade
Extended Schools' Consortium

Specialist Support for Children and Young People

Sometimes children, young people and their families need extra help and support. The common assessment framework is a tool that can be used to make sure that they get the right type of support as soon as possible.

Integrated Practice including the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people. It is a standardised approach to conducting an assessment of a child’s additional needs and deciding how they should be met. 

The CAF will promote more effective earlier identification of additional needs, particularly in universal services. It is intended to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of a child’s needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development. 

How does it work?

A worker known to the child or young person (like a teacher or a school nurse) will arrange to talk to them and listen to what they say. They will write it down on a form and give them or their parent(s) a copy.

After the assessment, a Team Around the Child (TAC) is organised. This team is made up of different workers who can offer help and support to the child or young person. The child/young person and their parent (s) are involved at every step.

The information is not shared with anyone unless this is agreed. The process is entirely voluntary.

For further information on Integrated Practice, please contact Fiona McKenna, Children and Young People’s Support Worker on 07535 549983 or email her on f.mckenna@cavendish.herts.sch.uk.

The Gade Extended Schools Consortium does not endorse or recommend any of the external organisations, services or information listed on its website. We cannot guarantee at any time that all the information is up to date and accurate. The Gade Extended Schools Consortium cannot accept liability for misleading or inaccurate information or omissions in information given to us by external information providers.