2 year check - what a flop!!

[Bambini2]

I'm not due another ofsted visit until next June , i'll have to find a two year old before then so i can do a 2 year check.

[carol cameron]

Yes, another one here who finds that the HV does the two year check before the child's second birthday. Not helpful really but at least the two year check gave opportunity to formally sit with parents and discuss child's progress so at least it was useful for something

[vals]

I did a 2 year check in January.The HV did hers in June. I hope she read it all as there are causes for concern that he parents are resisting hearing so I had to write it all very carefully. Mum says she did give the form to her. The result was being referred to speech and language, but nothings happened yet. So frustrating.

[nikki thomson]

Well here's my views for what there worth, our health care system in general in this country is in crisis, it takes for ever and a day to get a drs app, referral, operations etc. our HV are no exception along with social workers (who always get a hard time), there work loads are enormous and tbh the government adding to this with this 2 yr check well I can imagine the conversations now in the local practice.
It's all very well saying we have to do this we have to do that, there not interested etc, they are interested in childrens development obviously but this is just another form they need to read.
I personally don't think we as cm should be getting involved in HV work, yes if there are concerns they need to be noted and parents approached but that is where it should stop unless its a safeguarding issue, to many cooks and all that.
As ofsted are telling us all the time children progress at there own rate, there individuals etc, and so for the vast majority of the children we look after there all ticking along quite nicely at there own pace, a form saying little johnny doesn't say anything a 2yrs 6 mths means nothing, (my son said nothing at that age) hes now 9 and on the gifted list at school), I think most of it is a waste of our time, there said it.

[Chatterbox Childcare]

What is the 2 year old progress report for?
What does it highlight?
What is done about it?
If the 2 year old check wasn't done would any actions be put in place before nursery/school?

I think that although we don't really want to do the checks, we are the best placed to be able to answer the above questions.

Q1. The child
Q2. Any difficulties that the child might be having
Q3. Have I signposted the child on for help?
Q4. Probably not and if there was a problem then the child would enter school with a disability/impediment

In Swindon, the EY team devised a form for us to use so that the whole of our Borough was using it. The HV received it and found it contained too much information.

Now we use the form, meet with parents, get their input, and send a summary form to the HV. This highlights whether there is a problem with the child, what has been done about it, does the parent want any help?

We don't have enough HV in our Borough to cover every 2 year old so the form highlights problems and allows HV to prioritise where the help is needed.

For me, the system should work and the children in most need should get the help they need.

[Gem wright]

I was concerned about a child's speech, the advice I was given was wait until his 2year check. So at last I felt like I could help this little boy. Completed his 2 year check and ECAT monitoring form. Rang his HV who wouldn't talk to me because im just a cm, unless it was a safeguarding concern. Which if I had a safeguarding concern I wouldn't be phoning her! Anyway I asked if I could send her the forms I had ready. She said I could but she didn't no what a 2 year check was or a ECAT monitoring form..........

I ended up phoning Surestart and luckily the person I spoke to said far to much information and told me he's starting home talk.
At least he was getting the help he needed but why couldn't I have referred him to it, when I have been given all the tools to and have all the knowledge of the child.
Very frustrating. These forms which is no trouble to complete, are just kept in journals and I feel are not used to their potential.

[loocyloo]

What is the 2 year old progress report for?
What does it highlight?
What is done about it?
If the 2 year old check wasn't done would any actions be put in place before nursery/school?

I think that although we don't really want to do the checks, we are the best placed to be able to answer the above questions.

Q1. The child
Q2. Any difficulties that the child might be having
Q3. Have I signposted the child on for help?
Q4. Probably not and if there was a problem then the child would enter school with a disability/impediment

In Swindon, the EY team devised a form for us to use so that the whole of our Borough was using it. The HV received it and found it contained too much information.

Now we use the form, meet with parents, get their input, and send a summary form to the HV. This highlights whether there is a problem with the child, what has been done about it, does the parent want any help?

We don't have enough HV in our Borough to cover every 2 year old so the form highlights problems and allows HV to prioritise where the help is needed.

For me, the system should work and the children in most need should get the help they need.

that sounds really good.

would it be possible to send me a copy of the form? my DO is trying to devise a simple form to use with HV and to see one being used elsewhere would be great. thank you x

[Simona]

Thanks Chatterbox great info
I believe the 2 yo check is very important and certainly we cms have a great role to play here as we know the children best.
Most 'problems' arise between 2 and 3 years of age...towards 3 is when most concerns get flagged up about speech and many other issues

The thing is the system is not standardised...each La has its rules and that is frustrating and with children moving from setting to setting info can get lost
I hope that in 2015 when health and education link up we have more HVs... a DfE promise...things will get better
it would be a waste of our efforts if they didn't!

[catswhiskers]

Simona, I would agree with you. I've spent a lot of precious time doing a couple of 2 year checks.

Just hope that somewhere in between (they both turn 3 in Aug and Sept) that my input counts (after 2 folders worth of EYFS on each child).

[Simona]

Simona, I would agree with you. I've spent a lot of precious time doing a couple of 2 year checks.

Just hope that somewhere in between (they both turn 3 in Aug and Sept) that my input counts (after 2 folders worth of EYFS on each child).

I am just about to write another email to my EY to clarify a couple of points on this
It has now taken 4 consultants to either write to me, speak to me or ignore my request to clarify the procedures in my LA...which of course, differ from the other 151 LAs across England

Oh how I hate 'red tape'!!!
Our input should count and I am stunned any HV can ignore any report from a childcare provider!!

[rickysmiths]

We have a standardized form in our County. It takes no more than 30mins to complete if you know your child and then 15 mins with the parents. No one should be labouring over them for hours.

There is a currrent shortage of HV but as we all type there are a large number are training and will know what the 2 year check is all about.

[Simona]

We have a standardized form in our County. It takes no more than 30mins to complete if you know your child and then 15 mins with the parents. No one should be labouring over them for hours.

There is a currrent shortage of HV but as we all type there are a large number are training and will know what the 2 year check is all about.

When I say 'standardised' I mean between the 152 LAs...no point in having 152 variations?
The question is not how to do the progress check, which I am sure cms are good enough to devise their own method and forms...it is the timing of the check

I see no point in it being done at exactly age 2 when we then have another 11 months left of observations and decision making and if any concerns arise later on it means another check will be required which will put pressure on already depleted numbers of HVs.

Good to share though

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I did a 2 year check in January.The HV did hers in June. I hope she read it all as there are causes for concern that he parents are resisting hearing so I had to write it all very carefully. Mum says she did give the form to her. The result was being referred to speech and language, but nothings happened yet. So frustrating.

Can you not refer to speech and language as we can in our area? Next year will be a bit late

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Thanks Chatterbox great info
I believe the 2 yo check is very important and certainly we cms have a great role to play here as we know the children best.
Most 'problems' arise between 2 and 3 years of age...towards 3 is when most concerns get flagged up about speech and many other issues

The thing is the system is not standardised...each La has its rules and that is frustrating and with children moving from setting to setting info can get lost
I hope that in 2015 when health and education link up we have more HVs... a DfE promise...things will get better
it would be a waste of our efforts if they didn't!

Childminders here have undergone training and been given the BRISC sheets to assess ourselves and if we have concerns then we refer.

Ofsted told me that if I knew that a child had a learning problem and I hadn't done the check then I would be downgraded and an action point given. The check should be done around 2.5 years otherwise they will be on our backs.

[bindy]

Childminders here have undergone training and been given the BRISC sheets to assess ourselves and if we have concerns then we refer.

Ofsted told me that if I knew that a child had a learning problem and I hadn't done the check then I would be downgraded and an action point given. The check should be done around 2.5 years otherwise they will be on our backs.

Who will be on your backs? We were told at training closer to 2 the better, early intervention.

[The Juggler]

What is the 2 year old progress report for?
What does it highlight?
What is done about it?
If the 2 year old check wasn't done would any actions be put in place before nursery/school?

I think that although we don't really want to do the checks, we are the best placed to be able to answer the above questions.

Q1. The child
Q2. Any difficulties that the child might be having
Q3. Have I signposted the child on for help?
Q4. Probably not and if there was a problem then the child would enter school with a disability/impediment

In Swindon, the EY team devised a form for us to use so that the whole of our Borough was using it. The HV received it and found it contained too much information.

Now we use the form, meet with parents, get their input, and send a summary form to the HV. This highlights whether there is a problem with the child, what has been done about it, does the parent want any help?

We don't have enough HV in our Borough to cover every 2 year old so the form highlights problems and allows HV to prioritise where the help is needed.

For me, the system should work and the children in most need should get the help they need.

i agree Debbie. IMO the check (apart from it being a formal written report) doesnt' make any difference to how I/we practiced prior to the requirement. We have always raised concerns over speech, physical development and encouraged parents to seek checks and referrals. We would be talkign to parents about these as they arise regardless of the 2 year check. This just formallises and writes down our concerns and any referrals that have happened or will happen.

It means when a child moves on there is in the LJ a record so the new setting doesn't have to raise the issues all over again with parents and know what has been done and see the measures that have been put in place and the progress that is being made by the child (or not).

[Simona]

Who will be on your backs? We were told at training closer to 2 the better, early intervention.

I think it is very clear we have so many variations...Ofsted on our backs...are they not already?
Where does it say in the EYFS or the NCB progress check publication that we would be downgraded on this matter?

We can only do the check according to what our local HV system is...it goes without saying that any cm who has additional worries after a child has undergone a check would flag it up anyway they can
The Progress check does not end when a child has a check at age 2...it carries on until age 3.

'Intervention' in this case is to prevent children arriving at school with undetected needs...once those are flagged up intervention is a long process and referrals can take a long time but we would have done all necessary and required!

[vals]

Can you not refer to speech and language as we can in our area? Next year will be a bit late

has to be done by the parent, and as they are in complete denial nothing is getting done. Only other option would be report is as neglect, which it sort of is if the parent has been told lots of times and chooses to take no action.