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Parents, Carers & Young People

This is a TEST PAGE and currently under development. All information is in DRAFT form and not finalised. This will be launched on 1st November 2026

The Earliest Support Pathway (ESP) is Gloucestershire's way of helping children, young people and families get the right support as early as possible.

Sometimes a child or young person may need extra help with their learning, development, health, wellbeing or family life. The Earliest Support Pathway helps families, communities and services work together to understand what is going well, what support may be needed and what actions could help.

The pathway is used by a range of services, including those supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

How does it work?

The Earliest Support Pathway helps families and professionals to:

  • talk about strengths, needs and goals
  • understand what support may help
  • agree actions and who will be responsible for them
  • review progress and make changes if needed

Children, young people and parent carers should be involved throughout the process and have a say in decisions about support.

The discussions, agreed support and actions are recorded in an Earliest Support Plan (ESP). The plan provides a shared record of what is working well, what support is needed, the goals being worked towards and any agreed next steps. This helps everyone work together and review progress over time.

What is changing?

The Earliest Support Pathway replaces Gloucestershire's Graduated Pathway.

This change is part of the government's Families First Partnership Programme, which aims to help services work together more effectively so that children, young people and families can get support at the right time.

The aim is to make it easier for families and professionals to work together to understand a child or young person's needs and agree support. Using the same approach across services will help everyone share information, develop a shared understanding of what is needed and reduce the need for families to repeat their story.

The Earliest Support Pathway is a Gloucestershire approach to improving how services work together. It is separate from national SEND reforms, although future changes to the pathway, guidance and resources may be made to reflect national developments and local feedback.

As part of this change, the Earliest Support Plan (ESP) will gradually replace My Plan and My Plan+.

This will happen over time. If a child or young person already has a My Plan or My Plan+, it does not need to be rewritten straight away. The Earliest Support Plan will usually be introduced when the plan is next reviewed or updated.

What is not changing?

Children, young people and families will continue to receive support based on their needs.

The Earliest Support Pathway does not change who can access support. It also does not replace specialist assessments where these are needed.

Children and young people with SEND will continue to receive support based on their needs, including SEND Support in education settings.

The pathway provides a shared way for families and professionals to work together to understand needs, plan support and review progress.

This is a TEST PAGE and currently under development. All information is in DRAFT form and not finalised. This will be launched on 1st November 2026

The Earliest Support Pathway (ESP) is Gloucestershire's way of helping children, young people and families get the right support as early as possible.

Sometimes a child or young person may need extra help with their learning, development, health, wellbeing or family life. The Earliest Support Pathway helps families, communities and services work together to understand what is going well, what support may be needed and what actions could help.

The pathway is used by a range of services, including those supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

How does it work?

The Earliest Support Pathway helps families and professionals to:

  • talk about strengths, needs and goals
  • understand what support may help
  • agree actions and who will be responsible for them
  • review progress and make changes if needed

Children, young people and parent carers should be involved throughout the process and have a say in decisions about support.

The discussions, agreed support and actions are recorded in an Earliest Support Plan (ESP). The plan provides a shared record of what is working well, what support is needed, the goals being worked towards and any agreed next steps. This helps everyone work together and review progress over time.

What is changing?

The Earliest Support Pathway replaces Gloucestershire's Graduated Pathway.

This change is part of the government's Families First Partnership Programme, which aims to help services work together more effectively so that children, young people and families can get support at the right time.

The aim is to make it easier for families and professionals to work together to understand a child or young person's needs and agree support. Using the same approach across services will help everyone share information, develop a shared understanding of what is needed and reduce the need for families to repeat their story.

The Earliest Support Pathway is a Gloucestershire approach to improving how services work together. It is separate from national SEND reforms, although future changes to the pathway, guidance and resources may be made to reflect national developments and local feedback.

As part of this change, the Earliest Support Plan (ESP) will gradually replace My Plan and My Plan+.

This will happen over time. If a child or young person already has a My Plan or My Plan+, it does not need to be rewritten straight away. The Earliest Support Plan will usually be introduced when the plan is next reviewed or updated.

What is not changing?

Children, young people and families will continue to receive support based on their needs.

The Earliest Support Pathway does not change who can access support. It also does not replace specialist assessments where these are needed.

Children and young people with SEND will continue to receive support based on their needs, including SEND Support in education settings.

The pathway provides a shared way for families and professionals to work together to understand needs, plan support and review progress.

What is the Earliest Support Pathway?

Sometimes a child, young person or family needs some extra help. The Earliest Support Pathway is Gloucestershire’s way of helping families and professionals work together when needs begin to emerge.

The aim is to offer the right support at the right time, before difficulties become harder to manage. Support should build on your family’s strengths, relationships, routines and community connections.

It is not a single service

The pathway is a way of bringing help together. Support might involve a school or early years setting, health services, a family hub, a community organisation or another service already known to your family.

What is the Earliest Support Pathway?

Sometimes a child, young person or family needs some extra help. The Earliest Support Pathway is Gloucestershire’s way of helping families and professionals work together when needs begin to emerge.

The aim is to offer the right support at the right time, before difficulties become harder to manage. Support should build on your family’s strengths, relationships, routines and community connections.

It is not a single service

The pathway is a way of bringing help together. Support might involve a school or early years setting, health services, a family hub, a community organisation or another service already known to your family.

Who is the pathway for?

It can be used with children, young people and families with a broad range of needs. This includes children who need support through the SEND graduated approach.

Most families use everyday services such as schools, early years settings, health services and community groups. When a family has emerging needs and would benefit from coordinated help, an Earliest Support Plan may be suggested.

The five main principles

1

Work with your family

Support should be developed with you, not done to you. Your child’s views and your family’s views should be included.

 

2

Start with strengths

The plan should recognise what is already working, who helps and what your family does well.

 

3

Act early

The aim is to notice needs and offer support before difficulties become more complex.

 

4

One family, one plan

Where several people are involved, they should work towards shared goals and avoid asking you to repeat your story.

 

5

Support that matches your needs

The help offered should be proportionate and should change if your family’s needs change.

Who is the pathway for?

It can be used with children, young people and families with a broad range of needs. This includes children who need support through the SEND graduated approach.

Most families use everyday services such as schools, early years settings, health services and community groups. When a family has emerging needs and would benefit from coordinated help, an Earliest Support Plan may be suggested.

The five main principles

1

Work with your family

Support should be developed with you, not done to you. Your child’s views and your family’s views should be included.

 

2

Start with strengths

The plan should recognise what is already working, who helps and what your family does well.

 

3

Act early

The aim is to notice needs and offer support before difficulties become more complex.

 

4

One family, one plan

Where several people are involved, they should work towards shared goals and avoid asking you to repeat your story.

 

5

Support that matches your needs

The help offered should be proportionate and should change if your family’s needs change.

An Earliest Support Plan (ESP) is a written plan made with your family. It brings together what matters to you, what is going well, what people are worried about, what you want to be different and who will help.

Your plan should include

Your voice

What matters to your child and family, including your hopes, priorities and worries.

Strengths

What is going well, who supports you and what already helps.

Needs / Worries

A clear description of the areas where extra help may be useful.

Outcomes

What you and your child want to be different.

Actions

What will happen, who will do it and when.

Review

When everyone will check whether the support is making a difference.

 

Your plan should use clear language

You should be able to recognise your family’s story in the plan. It should use respectful, plain language and avoid labels, blame and unexplained professional terms.

An Earliest Support Plan (ESP) is a written plan made with your family. It brings together what matters to you, what is going well, what people are worried about, what you want to be different and who will help.

Your plan should include

Your voice

What matters to your child and family, including your hopes, priorities and worries.

Strengths

What is going well, who supports you and what already helps.

Needs / Worries

A clear description of the areas where extra help may be useful.

Outcomes

What you and your child want to be different.

Actions

What will happen, who will do it and when.

Review

When everyone will check whether the support is making a difference.

 

Your plan should use clear language

You should be able to recognise your family’s story in the plan. It should use respectful, plain language and avoid labels, blame and unexplained professional terms.

The Lead Practitioner is the main person who helps coordinate the plan. This could be someone from your child’s school, an early years setting, health, a family support service or another professional who knows your family.

Your views should help inform who takes this role. The Lead Practitioner does not have to do everything. Their role is to help people work together, keep the plan clear and make sure it is reviewed.

If more than one service is helping, a Team Around the Family meeting may be useful. This brings your family and the people supporting you together to agree priorities, actions and next steps.

Your family should be included in the meeting and should understand what is being discussed and agreed. You can ask for adjustments that make it easier for you or your child to take part.

Professionals should explain why information is needed, what it will be used for, who it may be shared with and where it will be recorded.

·         You should be involved in decisions about your family’s support.

·         You can ask questions if anything is unclear.

·         You can say which services you agree information can be shared with.

·         If you change your mind about consent, talk to the Lead Practitioner.

·         Information may be shared without consent where this is needed to keep a child safe.

Please ask

Who will see the plan? What information will be shared? Why is it needed? Where will the plan be kept? Who can I speak to if something is incorrect?

The Lead Practitioner is the main person who helps coordinate the plan. This could be someone from your child’s school, an early years setting, health, a family support service or another professional who knows your family.

Your views should help inform who takes this role. The Lead Practitioner does not have to do everything. Their role is to help people work together, keep the plan clear and make sure it is reviewed.

If more than one service is helping, a Team Around the Family meeting may be useful. This brings your family and the people supporting you together to agree priorities, actions and next steps.

Your family should be included in the meeting and should understand what is being discussed and agreed. You can ask for adjustments that make it easier for you or your child to take part.

Professionals should explain why information is needed, what it will be used for, who it may be shared with and where it will be recorded.

·         You should be involved in decisions about your family’s support.

·         You can ask questions if anything is unclear.

·         You can say which services you agree information can be shared with.

·         If you change your mind about consent, talk to the Lead Practitioner.

·         Information may be shared without consent where this is needed to keep a child safe.

Please ask

Who will see the plan? What information will be shared? Why is it needed? Where will the plan be kept? Who can I speak to if something is incorrect?

The plan should be reviewed regularly. A review is a conversation about whether the agreed support is helping and whether anything needs to change.

A review should ask

·         What has improved?

·         What is still difficult?

·         What does your child say now?

·         What does your family say now?

·         Have the agreed actions happened?

·         Is the current support still right?

·         Should the plan continue, change or end?

 

If things have worked well, the plan can end. The review should record what has improved, what support remains available and what you can do if needs return.

If needs become more complex, the plan may be changed or support may move into Family Help. The existing plan should help with a joined-up handover so you do not have to start again or repeat everything unnecessarily.

If your family is finding it difficult to take part, professionals should first try to understand any barriers, such as meeting times, communication needs, accessibility or trust. A plan should not be closed simply because contact has been difficult where worries remain or increase.

 

The plan should be reviewed regularly. A review is a conversation about whether the agreed support is helping and whether anything needs to change.

A review should ask

·         What has improved?

·         What is still difficult?

·         What does your child say now?

·         What does your family say now?

·         Have the agreed actions happened?

·         Is the current support still right?

·         Should the plan continue, change or end?

 

If things have worked well, the plan can end. The review should record what has improved, what support remains available and what you can do if needs return.

If needs become more complex, the plan may be changed or support may move into Family Help. The existing plan should help with a joined-up handover so you do not have to start again or repeat everything unnecessarily.

If your family is finding it difficult to take part, professionals should first try to understand any barriers, such as meeting times, communication needs, accessibility or trust. A plan should not be closed simply because contact has been difficult where worries remain or increase.

 

Questions you may want to ask

□  Why is an Earliest Support Plan being suggested?

□  What are the main worries and strengths?

□  What does my child want?

□  What support is available?

□  Who will be our Lead Practitioner?

□  Who will be involved in the plan?

□  What information will be shared?

□  When will the plan be reviewed?

□  What can I do if I disagree with something in the plan?

□  What happens if our needs increase or the plan is no longer needed?

Where to find more information

You can speak to a professional who already knows your child or family, such as someone at your child’s school or early years setting, a health professional, or a worker from a service supporting you.

Glosfamilies Directory

Gloucestershire Family Hubs

Questions you may want to ask

□  Why is an Earliest Support Plan being suggested?

□  What are the main worries and strengths?

□  What does my child want?

□  What support is available?

□  Who will be our Lead Practitioner?

□  Who will be involved in the plan?

□  What information will be shared?

□  When will the plan be reviewed?

□  What can I do if I disagree with something in the plan?

□  What happens if our needs increase or the plan is no longer needed?

Where to find more information

You can speak to a professional who already knows your child or family, such as someone at your child’s school or early years setting, a health professional, or a worker from a service supporting you.

Glosfamilies Directory

Gloucestershire Family Hubs