Early Years Pre-school Advisory Groups (PAG’s)

Information for Parents and Carers

Health professionals must notify the local authority if they identify a child who:

Is under compulsory school age (0 to 5 years old) and
They think the child has or probably has special educational needs or disability (SEND) in line with Section 23 of the Children and Families Act 2014

Brief version Children and Families Act 2014

Terms of Reference – Pre-School Advisory Groups

If your child has, or possibly has SEND, then the following professionals must inform the Local Authority:

GP
Health Visitor
Paediatrician
Other health professional

This is so that the Local Authority can make long-term plans for the types of services that may be needed for your child in the future.

Everyone working for the Local Authority and the National Health Service has a legal duty to keep information about you and your child confidential.

All services working with you and your child need up-to-date information to ensure that the support and services provided are appropriate and effective for your child's needs. For example, if a child's health condition changes, the support they require in education might also change. Up-to-date information allows professionals to adjust their support plans accordingly to provide the best care possible.

For more information about what we share, who we share it with, your rights, and how we store your data, please view Hampshire County Council's privacy notices.

Hampshire County Council privacy notices

Information for Health Professionals

How do I notify the Local Authority?: If you are a professional and would like to bring a child aged 0 to 5 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), or possible SEND, to our attention please complete the notification form found in the 'How do I send my notification’ section of this page.
I need to discuss my notification: If you need to discuss your notification, or have any queries, please contact us via: Services for Young Children General Enquiry Form
How do I send my notification?: Please complete the online form: Pre-school advisory group notification form
What happens next?: Parents

This notification will result in your child’s details being added to the Local Authority database. Your child's needs will be discussed at the next Pre-school Advisory Group meeting, and a multi-disciplinary panel will identify any support needed to help meet the needs of your child. PAG information for parents.

Professionals

This form is for the purpose of the NHS fulfilling its legal obligation to notify the Local Authority of a child 0 to 5 years old with SEND.

It can also be used by education providers and / or other professionals to notify the Local Authority of a child 0-5 with SEND to share with NHS partners.
What happens to the notification now?: Once the notification is submitted, it will be sent to the Pre-school Advisory Group (PAG). The PAG is a multi-disciplinary team that includes professionals from various fields such as education, health, and social care. They will review the notification and discuss the child's needs during their next meeting. The goal of this discussion is to identify any actions or support required to meet the child's needs effectively. An update will be sent back to the professional who made the notification, after the meeting of any resulting actions identified.