The Early Childhood Approach
The Early Childhood Approach is designed to support children younger than 9 years who have developmental delays or disabilities. This approach is family-centred and strengths-based, recognising that parents and carers know their child best. One of the key components of this approach is the Key Worker Model, which provides a coordinated and holistic support system for children and their families.
What is The Early Childhood Approach?
The NDIS Early Childhood Approach focuses on providing support to children and their families in their everyday natural environments. This approach is based on research evidence and is considered the best way to support children with disabilities or developmental delays under the age of nine years. The approach emphasises:
Family-Centred
Footprints recognise that families are central to their child’s development and involving them in all aspects of the intervention process.
Strength-Based
Building on the child’s and family’s strengths to achieve their goals.
Natural Environments
Providing support in settings where the child and family spend their daily lives, such as at home, in childcare, or at school.
What is the Key Worker Model?
The Key Worker Model is a family-centred approach where a single early childhood intervention specialist acts as the main point of contact for the child and their family. This model is recommended as best practice by the NDIS for children with developmental delays or disabilities.
A Key Worker is an early childhood intervention professional who:
Coordinates Care
Acts as the main contact for the family, coordinating all services and therapies the child needs.
Develops Individual Plans
Works with the family to develop goals and an individual plan for the child, considering their unique strengths, challenges, and interests.
Provides Therapy
Delivers therapeutic interventions and supports the child to achieve their goals.
Collaborates with Specialists
Draws on the knowledge and skills of a team of professionals to provide comprehensive support.
Supports Families
Offers information, advice, and emotional support to families, helping them navigate services and access resources.
How does the Key Worker Model work in practice?
In practice, the Key Worker Model involves:
Initial Consultation
Your Key Worker will talk with you about your child. They will walk you through the eco-map and routines-based interview (RBI) to determine your child’s needs in order to identify areas for support and set clear goals. This consultation usually lasts for 2 hours.
Observation
Your Key Worker will conduct 1-2 observations of the goals set out in the previous visit. The observations are usually conducted in 2 different environments e.g. home and childcare. This is to gain a thorough understanding of your child’s needs and will be crucial information that will go towards creating their support plan.
Planning
At this stage, your Key Worker will have gained enough information to begin writing up your child’s Family Service Support Plan (FSSP). This plan outlines the goals and strategies specific to your child’s needs. Your Key Worker will also create a team of professionals to best meet the needs of your child.
Regular Visits
Your Key Worker will begin regular visits to your chosen location and time. Your Key Worker will work closely with you during these visits to support you and your child through strategies. They will build your capacity to include strategies within regular times of the day to support the development of your child’s skills within daily routines e.g. getting ready for school, mealtimes, bedtime, etc. Visit days and times may change to ensure you and your child are receiving the support required.
Monitoring Progress
Throughout the year, your Key Worker will review your child’s progress 6 months and 9 months through the Family Service Support Plan (FSSP). Here, your Key Worker will discuss your child’s progress thus far. This is also an opportunity to make any amendments to current goals and priorities to ensure your child’s goals are in line with their current needs.
Service Fees
Footprints Early Childhood Intervention offer high quality, evidence based services to families across Sydney. We support children who are self-managed, plan-managed and private.
Our services are calculated using the NDIS price guide.
