A parents' guide to quality early childhood intervention

If you’re navigating your child’s developmental delay or disability, knowing where to find the right support (and what that even looks like) can feel overwhelming. You might be talking to therapists, doctors, educators and support services, all while trying to understand what’s best for your child and your family.

That’s why the Australian Government released a guide that explains what quality early childhood intervention is.

Published in conjunction with the launch of the Thriving Kids program, the National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention helps families understand what the support looks like and how they can access it.

Designed to help parents feel more confident advocating for their child’s needs, the Framework offers a practical guide to making support decisions and helps families understand what to expect from early childhood practitioners.

The National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention

Every child is different and effective intervention considers more than their diagnosis and developmental milestones. That’s why the Framework highlights the need for support that focuses on your child’s strengths, interests, family circumstances, and everyday environment.

While it’s intended to guide how Thriving Kids services should be designed and delivered, the Framework also applies more broadly to early childhood intervention services, including those delivered through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

It offers a useful reference point for families wanting to understand what good support includes and can help guide you on how to set expectations for the professionals who work with your child. 

The characteristics of good early childhood support

One of the key points highlighted by the Framework is that parents are the experts on their own children. You know your child’s interests, strengths, challenges and routines best, and this knowledge should be taken into consideration when shaping the support they receive.

The Framework outlines several characteristics of good early intervention support, including that:

• your family is involved in decision-making
• there’s a focus on your child’s strengths
• the support fits into your everyday life
• the approaches your child’s support team recommends are evidence-based
• respect is shown for your child’s circumstances, and services are culturally safe, accessible, and responsive to your family’s needs
• services are reviewed as your child grows

The Framework emphasises the importance of practitioners working alongside families to make interventions meaningful, practical, and able to be integrated into day-to-day life. This gives children more opportunities to learn and practice new skills.

For example, if your child finds communicating with others difficult, intervention might involve working with a speech pathologist to develop strategies that can also be used during play, meals or at kindergarten – not just during a therapy session.

The Framework includes a decision-making guide to help you and your child’s practitioners work through important considerations together, such as:

• which goals are most important
• which strategies might be most helpful
• who should be involved in delivering support
• where services will be delivered  
• how much support might be needed

Questions for your child's support team

One big takeaway from the Framework is that good early intervention is a partnership, and you should feel comfortable asking questions and being involved in decisions.

Some helpful questions for your child’s practitioners might include:

• “What strengths is my child already showing?”
• “What goals are we working towards, and why?”
• “How will these strategies fit into our daily routine?”
• “What evidence supports the approach you’re recommending?”
• “How will we know if a support is helping?”
• “How often will we review goals and make changes if they’re needed?”
• “What can I do at home to support my child's progress?”

These conversations can help make sure the support your child is getting is meaningful and practical, and that it lines up with what’s important for your family.

How you can support your child's development

Something important that’s highlighted in the Framework is that development doesn’t only happen during therapy sessions. Many of the best learning opportunities happen during daily activities and routines.

Some simple ways you can support your child include:

• spending time playing, talking and reading together
• following their interests and encouraging them to explore and learn
• involving them in everyday activities at home and in the community
• helping them build friendships and connections with others
• working with their support team to use strategies in daily life
• celebrating progress and recognising their strengths

How to make sure your child gets the support they deserve

Whether your child receives support through the NDIS, Thriving Kids, or another early childhood service, you should feel comfortable asking questions about the services and interventions that are available.

If something doesn’t make sense or you’d like to understand the reasoning behind a recommendation, a good practitioner will be willing to explain it – and they’ll work with you to find the best approach for your child and your family.

You can also speak with a GP, a child health nurse, an early childhood educator, or the National Disability Insurance Agency to learn more about the support that’s offered by the NDIS and Thriving Kids.