Team Around the Child (formerly known as Impact)

Inclusive multi-agency – parents/carers and children together
A Team Around the Child (TAC) meeting is an opportunity for parents, carers, children and practitioners to meet up, share information and to decide and plan for the best way forward in the next few months.

TAC meetings are generally for children with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0 – 8 years. Meetings are kept as informal as possible, you are encouraged to bring along significant people in the child/young persons or family’s life and there is an attempt to look at the needs of the whole family. Meetings last no longer than 1 hour.

Parents / carers are recognised as experts on their children or young person. They are very much in the driving seat of the meeting and are encouraged to ask questions and to raise any points they wish.

A plan is drawn up to best meet the needs identified and is based on the outcomes of being healthy, enjoying and achieving, staying safe, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being.

How to arrange a TAC meeting for your child/young person & family

• Parents/carers can contact one of the Early Support Coordinators to arrange a meeting
• The CONTACTS team can recommend further discussion with the family present at a TAC meeting
• You can ask any practitioner involved to refer to the Team Around the Child

Who can come to the meetings
YOU, as parents / carers are an essential part of the meeting. Your child or young person will also be welcome to attend – we can arrange for an experienced crèche worker to entertain / care for your child during the meeting if you would like that.

A range of practitioners can attend the meeting, including; paediatricians, early years SENDCos, health visitors, physiotherapists, speech therapists, portage worker, dieticians, occupational therapists, nursery or school teachers, educational psychologists, support workers and any other significant person in your child / young person / family’s life.

What parents & carers should expect from the team around the child

• A detailed CAF Review or family service plan will be provided to parents / carers and other involved professionals
• Action points will be agreed in the meeting
• Parents / carers are in the driving seat of the meeting
• Family’s individual circumstances will be treated with respect and confidentiality within the meeting and any delicate issues will be managed sensitively.

For further information contact Children's First Contact Service on 020 8770 6001