What is a CAF?

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DD1's teacher is reading over the email I sent her about AS and dyspraxia this weekend and getting back to me on what she thinks. Both her and the TA (and the other yr2 teacher) agree that she isn't quite like the other children, but not sure exactly how.

Anyway, she is getting back to me.

In the meantime my mum (works at the school) got chatting to the head about it all, and she said to wait for the teacher obv (I don't want her to feel like I am going over her head for no reason as she is lovely), but if she doesn't do anything or I am not happy with what she says, then to go directly to the head and they will sort out having a CAF for DD1.

What's one of them then?

The head was amazing apparently. She likes DD1 anyway, and seems to want to do anything to help my mum

It's a long form which has to be done with the agreement of the child and parent. You can at any time pull out. Anyone can start a CAF. Basically it is usually used if there are several agencies workign with one child as a means to pull them altogether with targets identified and so that everyone knows what everyone else is doign rather than people workign separately.

It's filled in usually with the parent and young person adn a meeting is held with all interested parties attending. I think it's a good idea to know exactly what you want the targets to be before this so the meeting can be steered that way. At the end of the meeting the targets are filled in with a time frame of who will do what and a review date set.
A lead person will need to be chosen.

If you google it there are leaflets for parents available. I'll see if I can find the link.

just scroll down to the bottom for parents leaflet www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/resources-and-practice/IG00172/

Thank you Will go read

Sounds positive though! Something actually being done

one thing to say is they can be very personal and there is a lot of information so be sure that anything you put on the CAF you are happy to share with proffessionals. Its a good tool and is worth doing if you have more than one extra proffessional working with your family.
Good luck

Here, you can't access any additional services (except CAMHS, I think) without a CAF. They can be useful documents but, IME, you still have to fill new services in on the child and fill out more forms, so it's not working 100% here yet!

Sounds really positive about the Head

Most services are now insisting on a CAF before they will accept a referral. Not all children will need one and a preCAF form can be filled out instead.

You have to agree to a CAF and only relevant information should be included.

Personally I think there is a loooong way to go before the system works.

sorry chegirl but you def can refuse to complete a CAF, and some of those questions are very personal and have very little to do with SN most of the time imo

I have discovered that children in my area have to have a CAF to access any 'aiming high' funding. My daughter is already in the system and so will miss out.

I am reluctant to ask for a CAF because it sounds very intrusive.