Our approach for children aged 0-16

SDN uses the keyworker approach for children 0-16.

Currently viewed as best practice in early childhood intervention, the key worker model is a collaborative approach that gives you access to a range of specialists, but therapy is delivered in a personalised way through one qualified professional called your Early Intervention Practitioner.

Choosing the one over the many

This collaborative approach centres on one professional becoming the Early Intervention Practitioner for your family. That professional could be a a speech pathologist or occupational therapist, or early childhood professional who can draw on the expertise, knowledge and skills from within their team and deliver that expertise within your home environment, child care centre or another place where your child spends time.

If at any stage they need to draw on more specialised expertise, the Early Intervention Practitioner can then either liaise in greater detail with the relevant professional, or even bring them in to visit the family at key stages of the process.

Great outcomes in a familiar environment

We deliver our therapy at several SDN early childhood education and care centres. This is a regular setting for your child to meet with their key worker and it also allows the key worker to teach skills to you and others that are significant to your child’s learning, with a focus on developing skills that help the child to participate. Repetition and opportunities to practice leads to more powerful and sustained outcomes for children and families.