Support for Our Youngest Children

Information you can find on this page:

1. The 2 – 2½ Year Health Review

2. Early Years Foundation Stage Progress Check at Age Two - For children attending an early years childcare setting 

3. Further Information for parents

During a child’s early years, there will be opportunities for families to have conversations around their child’s development in order to identify any needs, to consider appropriate referrals and interventions to support their child. 

They are offered regular health and development reviews (health visitor checks) for the baby/child. These are to support parents and the baby/child, and make sure their development is on track.

At around the age of two, there are specific checks on a child’s development, that will help ensure that any needs that a child may have are identified early and that parents/carers and children get the right support at the right time.   

The 2 – 2½ Year Health Review

The 2 – 2½ Year Review is one of the checks that form part of the Healthy Child Programme, delivered by the Health Visiting Service.

The reviews are usually done by a nursery nurse or health visitor. They may be done in the home or at a GP surgery, baby clinic or at a Children and Family Centre.

An ASQ-3 questionnaire is sent to the parent/carer, about the child's development to fill in before the review. A health visitor, keyworker or childminder can help with this.

This review will cover:

• general development, including movement, speech, social skills and behaviour, and hearing and vision
• growth, healthy eating and keeping active
• managing behaviour and encouraging good sleeping habits
• tooth brushing and going to the dentist
• keeping your child safe
• Vaccinations

More detail can be found on the NHS website

Early Years Foundation Stage Progress Check at Age Two - For children attending an early years childcare setting

There is another statutory review, for children attending an early years childcare setting, undertaken by childcare practitioners. This is different from the health visiting 2-2 ½ Year Review. When the child is aged between 2 and 3, childcare practitioners must review their progress, and provide parents/carers with a short, written summary of their child’s development in the prime areas; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; and Communication and Language.  This is an Ofsted requirement. 

The progress check must identify the child’s strengths, and any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected.   

If significant emerging concerns are identified, the early years childcare setting makes appropriate requests for support from specialists such as the Speech and Language Therapy Service. 

Further Information for parents

If you would like any further information please contact your child’s Health Visitor. For general information you can also contact your Children and Family Centre, your child’s early years setting or the Integrated Early Years Service:

Email: early.years@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7364 1553

You can find information on children’s learning and development 

You may be eligible for free childcare or for an Early Learning for Two Year Olds place. Please contact the Family Information Service 

Tel: 020 7364 4649

Information on the Integrated Approach is outlined in the new guidance from Public Health England. 

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