TEN PRINCIPLES
For building and improving joined-up early support

Principles come from a basic philosophy 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.

ONE
People around the child should talk to each other

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

THREE
There is a single, unified, holistic action plan for each child

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

NINE
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 recipients. They can work at the grassroots to help improve or create a local effective early support system