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Screening and Assessment Tools as part of the APDR process

Checks and assessments to complete as part of a clear, step-by-step approach to understand needs and support the Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR) process.

Part of
Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool: Step by step

Click "navigate this page" to see the page contents, as well as a full list of the Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool step by step pages.

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Part of
Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool: Step by step

The purpose of this pathway is to ensure every child and young person in a Somerset school receives the support they are entitled to

1Statutory Special Educational Needs (SEN) information

  1. Statutory Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) information

    2Understanding the Graduated Response

    1. What is the Graduated Response?
    2. The Assess, Plan, Do, Review Cycle
    3. Screening and Assessment Tools as part of the APDR process
    4. Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC plans)

      3Funding

      1. Funding
      2. Available funding for Special Educational Needs (SEN)

        4Expectations for Teachers, Governors, SENCOs and Headteachers

        1. What different people in schools should do
        2. School Governors’ responsibilities
        3. Headteachers’ responsibilities
        4. Teachers’ responsibilities
        5. SENCos’ responsibilities

          5Expectations for Whole School Inclusion

          1. Expectations for Whole School Inclusion

            6Quick checkers

            1. Quick Checker – Cognition and Learning
            2. Quick Checker – Communication and Interaction
            3. Quick Checker – Sensory and Physical
            4. Quick Checker – Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

              7Inclusion for each Broad Area of Need

              Information about the four areas of need set out in the Code of Practice

              1. Inclusion for each Broad Area of Need

                8Cognition and Learning

                1. Universal – Cognition and Learning
                2. SEN support – Cognition and Learning
                3. How can I find out more? – Cognition and Learning

                  9Communication and Interaction

                  1. Universal – Communication and Interaction
                  2. SEN Support – Communication and Interaction
                  3. How can I find out more? – Communication and Interaction

                    10Sensory and Physical

                    1. Universal – Sensory and Physical
                    2. SEN Support – Sensory and Physical
                    3. How can I find out more? – Sensory and Physical

                      11Social, Emotional and Mental Health

                      1. Universal – Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
                      2. SEN support – Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
                      3. How can I find out more? – Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

                        12Graduated Response Tool – Complex Medical Needs

                        1. Graduated Response Tool – Complex Medical Needs

                          13Supporting tools, documents and signposting

                          1. Supporting tools, documents and signposting

                            Overview

                            The pyramid below provides the Graduated Response to assessments.

                            This guides what settings would be expected to be completed as part of a clear graduated response to assess the need to inform the APDR process.

                            Links to these tools can be found within the ‘Tools for Identification of Need’ sections within the Broad Areas of Need section broken down into

                            • Cognition and Learning
                            • Communication and Interaction
                            • Sensory and Physical
                            • Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

                            ‘Where a pupil continues to make less than expected progress, despite evidence-based support and interventions that are matched to the pupil’s area of need, the school should consider involving specialists’ – Code of Practice 6.58.

                            To access specialist support, Somerset Early Help Assessment (EHA) is the tool for practitioners to identify the needs of the children/young people and their families and make ‘request for services’ involvement where required if services already involved are not able to meet the identified needs.

                            Assessments below should continue to be used, as appropriate as part of a Graduated Approach and the APDR process.

                            Look for additional specialist assessments from outside agencies – for example, health and specialist teachers

                            Conversation with the parent carer including whether any health professionals are involved.

                            • Phonological Awareness Skills
                            • Reading
                            • Spelling
                            • Writing
                            • Numeracy
                            • Working Memory
                            • Speed of Processing
                            • Expressive Language
                            • Social Communication
                            • Listening and Attention
                            • Coventry Grid
                            • High Frequency Words
                            • Receptive Language
                            • Boxall profile

                            Conversation with the parent carer including whether any health professionals are involved.

                            SIT Child Profile, Quick Checkers

                            • Phonological Awareness Skills
                            • Reading
                            • Spelling
                            • High Frequency Words
                            • Writing
                            • Numeracy
                            • Working Memory
                            • Speed of Processing
                            • Expressive Language
                            • Receptive Language
                            • Social Communication
                            • Listening and Attention
                            • Social Emotional Mental Health Assessments

                            All these areas incorporate specialist advice and support. For example:

                             

                            Last updated: October 24, 2025

                            Next review due: April 24, 2026

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