Relationship-based early intervention services for children with complex needs: lessons from New Zealand

For children at risk of or identified with developmental delays or disabilities Early Intervention (EI) services can alter developmental trajectories significantly. Current EI services in the UK run the risk of devaluing families’ contribution to children’s learning and development and children’s varying competencies and strengths. The objective of this project was to visit the world-leading Champion Centre in New Zealand to learn about its relationship-based EI services for children with complex needs. The aim was to interview professionals, observe their interactions with children, talk to families and gather information about the work undertaken at the Centre that could be translated to a UK context to work with children with developmental delays and disabilities. The Champion Centre programme is provided in a centre-based model of service, in partnership with parents, and in accordance with international best practice. The programme is offered to children from birth to school age who have significant delays in at least two areas of development and is underpinned by five principles. These are that the programme is relational, family-centred, strengths-based, ecological and reflective. This project explored parent and professional views about the contextual and theoretical aspects of this service that could be translated to a UK context