Working together to support your family - Section 23

Health professionals informing us about your child's additional needs or disability

Dorset Council, NHS Dorset and our education settings work closely together to ensure we do everything we can to give our youngest children the ‘best start in life’.
As your child grows, you might see a range of health professionals, including:

• your GP
• hospital doctors
• health visitors
• paediatricians
• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists
• community nursery nurse
• consultant audiologists
• ophthalmologists
• speech and language therapists.

This could be in a variety of different areas e.g., learning delay, communication difficulties or physical difficulties. They will ask your permission to notify us of this. These health professionals may advise you that your child might benefit from some additional support to help their development.

About Section 23 notifications

Health professionals have a legal duty under Section 23 of the Children and Families Act 2014. They must inform the local authority about any child under 5 who may need extra support when starting school. This applies to children who have, or are likely to have, special educational needs or a disability (SEND).

Informing us about your child’s needs

Section 23 Notifications help us all work together better to improve services for families. Your health professional will talk to you about the notification at your child’s appointment and will give you advice on organisations and services that may be able to provide support.

We use the information from these notifications to plan education services. This ensures there are enough education places in the right areas in future years. It also helps us provide the necessary support for all children and young people with SEND.

It might not mean your child needs additional support right away. However, if staff at your child's early years setting (childminder, pre-school, or nursery) believe your child needs extra support, they will discuss this with you. They will explain why they think it is necessary and what support may be available.

Making a Section 23 notification in Dorset

We use a secure digital system, and the health professional completes a digital form to Dorset Council This is known as a ‘Section 23 Notification’. 

The notification will be added into our secure database and shared with your locally based Best Start in Life Advisor. These Advisors work closely with the early years settings across Dorset and provide home visits to some children who may need some additional support. 

A Best Start in Life Advisor will contact you to introduce themselves and explain the support available to you and your child.

We are responsible for keeping your personal information secure and up to date. Information about you is protected by law and must be treated carefully. You have the right to ask the professionals supporting you about information they have and what they are using it for.

Accessing more information and support

The Dorset Local Offer for children and young people (aged up to 25) with SEND and their families signposts to a wealth of information to support families in accessing the most appropriate support for their child.

There is also information in the Dorset Council Start for Life Guide.