TEN PRINCIPLES
For building and improving joined-up early support

Principles come from a basic philosophy and belief system about families and their children. Then principles inform practice.
Perhaps you would choose a different list of principles from mine. I am happy to modify my list in discussion with parents and practitioners. Please get in touch with your suggestions.

ONE
People around the child talk to each other

TWO
Parents are fully involved in the team around their child (TAC)

THREE
The team around each child agrees a single, joined-up, holistic action plan

FOUR
Each child’s TAC (team around the child) is a mutually supportive team with a flat power structure

FIVE
Joint action plans are designed to reduce the child and family’s exhaustion and stress as much as possible

SIX
It is the responsibility of parents to bring up their child. It is the responsibility of early support practitioners to support them when they ask for help

SEVEN
Activities to support the child’s learning, development and quality of life are integrated into the child and family’s natural activities

EIGHT
When discussing a child’s development and learning, practitioners do not use the term multiple disabilities and think instead of a single unique multifaceted condition

NINE
Effective joined-up support for a new child’s development and learning is much more an education issue than a health issue

TEN
Parents are not treated as passive and powerless recipients. They can work at the grassroots to help improve or create a local effective early support system