There is a clear consensus that joint planning at the earliest possible stage is most helpful in meeting children's and young people's needs. Early and good communication between education staff, allied health professionals and parents is more likely to lead to meaningful planning and a meaningful plan for the individual child. It is also more likely that there will be a streamlined approach to planning so that the work of the allied health professional integrates well with learning targets in school. Learning targets are more likely to be reinforced at home if parents have also been centrally involved in planning. Planning is considered to be most effective when the young person's views are taken into account.
Joint planning addresses the question, how can we jointly collaborate so that our work together brings about better outcomes for this young person than if we were working individually? Allied health professionals and education staff work jointly on the relevant parts of a young person's individualised educational programme. Where a child or young person meets the criteria for a coordinated support plan, allied health professionals are involved in drafting relevant educational objectives in partnership with education colleagues. An integrated plan should also reduce the need for different review processes and so reduce the number of meetings parents, professionals and children and young people need to attend.