‘This is Me’ is a new tool being rolled out in schools that looks at a child’s strengths and needs, focussing on neurodivergence. It will help everyone to understand a child’s differences and meet their needs at home and at school.
A neurodivergent child’s brain processes information in a different way to others. They may have sensory differences, difficulty sleeping or adapting to a change in routine. They could find it hard to sit still, make friends or say how they feel. All of these things can make school very challenging.
Working with schools, families and children, a trained professional will complete a ‘This is Me needs summary’ after observing the child and talking to them. This will not result in a diagnosis but will help the child to get the support they need.
A personalised support plan will then be created which can be used in a school or home environment.
If a child is waiting for an assessment for autism or ADHD, they will not lose their place on the waiting list by taking part in ‘This is Me’.
When ‘This is Me’ has been introduced in a school, it will be the only method of referral. This means a child will get access to support from a new community team long before they have an assessment, which may not be needed once the support is in place.
Many children will not need a diagnosis at all as ‘This is Me’ provides personalised support based on a child’s needs.
‘This is Me’ will help families and teachers to have a better understanding of a child’s needs and strengths.
This will help everyone to understand a child’s differences and meet their needs at home and at school. That could involve making adaptations, such as introducing additional breaks, changing the environment or doing more outdoor learning.
The ’This is Me needs summary’ looks at nine different areas. They are:
- speech and language
- energy levels
- attention and impulse control
- emotional regulation ability
- motor skills
- sensory skills
- adaptability and flexibility
- empathising and systemising
- cognitive abilities
Maidstone is the first area in the county to be selected for the ‘This is Me’ roll-out, following a successful pilot in Tunbridge Wells. Over the coming academic year, ‘This is Me’ will be introduced to all mainstream schools in Maidstone.
In time, ‘This is Me’ will be introduced in all mainstream schools in Kent and Medway. Findings from the rigorous evaluation process will be used to further develop the service. We are working towards rolling it out across Kent and Medway from Autumn 2025.
Over the last few years, demand for autism and ADHD assessments in England has risen at such speed that services are unable to keep up.
In Kent and Medway, some children are waiting many years for an assessment and not getting the support they need. We are changing the process so that we offer support first, rather than children spending many years on a waiting list without help.
Many children may not need to join a waiting list for a diagnosis as they will already have the support they need.
NHS Kent and Medway is working with Kent County Council and NHS providers to transform the neurodevelopmental support pathway for children and young people.
Members of school staff are being trained to provide the ‘This is Me needs summary’ in children’s own schools.
Please visit community paediatrics for advice on helping children with autism and ADHD.