What to look for in early intervention supports

Early intervention can help children develop essential everyday skills. 

Sometimes, children who get early intervention might not need long-term support.

If you are seeking early intervention support for your child you may want to consider the following key points:

• Is the support family-centred? Supports should actively involve and engage parents and other family members, and be tailored to the family’s circumstances and priorities

• Is the support child-focused? Supports should be suggested and delivered based on the individual child’s needs and goals, and aim to develop specific skills

• Is it structured and supportive? Supports should be delivered in an environment where the child and family feel comfortable and be highly structured, well-organised, consistent and predictable, but flexible to adapt to a child’s learning needs on a given day

• Is there quality of therapy? Supports and services should be based on solid evidence and research, and delivered by practitioners with appropriate qualifications and experience

• Will there be regular assessment? Supports should be regularly reviewed and progress regularly assessed against the child’s goals and milestones

• Does it build knowledge and skills? Supports and information provided should build the knowledge, skills and confidence of the family and important people in the child’s life

Related content

• Early intervention under the NDIS
• Preparing for your ECEI meeting