All three year olds in Jersey are now being offered a developmental review at their school or nursery in the year before they start school.

The Three-Year Developmental Review scheme is now being offered to families by CYPES (Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department) in partnership with Family Nursing and Home Care. 

Almost four years ago, the Early Years Development Board recommended a progress review or children at three years old.  The EYDB said there was a lack of information on children when they start school, because of the gap after they are review at 12 and 24 months old.

A one year pilot of the reviews at age three has found they give an early insight into children's needs before they start in Reception class.

It can identify any support that might be needed to reach developmental milestones, and enables referrals to be made to other services or agencies.

Amber Coopland, Manager for the Best Start Partnership said: "The reviews do a number of things. They provide an opportunity to identify any unidentified need and provide support to parents, settings, and schools, whether that be formal or informal.

"For example, parents might want some additional support about toilet learning for their child, they may want to find out information about getting rid of using a dummy, or it might be more formal like referrals to speech and language therapists or other professionals."

The reviews are done within school or nursery settings, with parents supported by their child's teacher or keyworker and a health visitor from Family Nursing and Home Care.

All families of three-year-old children who take part in the review will be provided with a ‘Me at Three’ box, which include:

• ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’ and ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ books
• A ‘Top tips for Communication and Language’ flyer, developed by Best Start
• Information about ’50 Things to Do before You’re Five’, a free app and website that offers parents and carers a menu of exciting activities
• A bookmark from Jersey Library with information about their services for families
• Activity ideas for parents and carers to do with their child from ‘Ages and Stages’

Public Health, in partnership with Family Nursing & Home Care, have also produced a booklet  to encourage parents to introduce healthy habits that support childhood development in 3-to-5-year-olds.

The box has been designed by Edward, a four-year-old competition winner in Jersey, and will come with high quality crayons for children to decorate and personalise the box - giving them a special place to store their books.