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General Developmental Screening Tool

Understanding Growth & Nurturing Potential

Section 1: Introduction & Purpose

Welcome to the General Developmental Screening Tool. This resource is designed to help individuals, parents, and professionals gain a clearer understanding of developmental progress across various domains, identify areas for support, and highlight unique strengths.

Who is this Screening Tool For?

This screener is for individuals of all ages (children, young adults, and adults) who are seeking to understand their developmental profile, or for those supporting individuals with potential developmental differences.

It is managed by a professional (e.g., teacher, SENCo, GP, health visitor, support worker, or parent) to help guide the process and discuss the results.

What Will This Tool Do?

This tool will help to:

Identify if experiences align with common indicators of developmental differences across various domains (e.g., motor, communication, cognitive, social-emotional).
Highlight individual's unique strengths (e.g., specific talents, resilience, adaptive skills) that can support overall development.
Provide practical insights into learning and developmental preferences and effective strategies for nurturing growth.
Guide recommendations for further assessment (e.g., by a paediatrician, occupational therapist, speech therapist, or educational psychologist), educational adjustments, or workplace accommodations.

Important Information:

It is vital to understand that this is a screening tool, not a formal diagnostic assessment for any specific developmental disorder. It is designed to inform support and identify the need for further investigation, not to label.

A formal diagnosis can only be provided by qualified specialists in relevant fields (e.g., paediatrician, psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist).

Our Strengths-Based Approach:

We believe everyone has strengths and unique ways of developing. This screener, in line with The Dynamic Development Plan framework, focuses on understanding the individual's whole profile. It is not just about identifying challenges, but about recognising their resilience, unique talents, and other positive attributes that can help them thrive.

Let us begin to explore their unique potential!

Section 2: Background & Developmental History

This section helps us understand the individual's developmental history and current functioning. Please complete all relevant fields or mark 'N/A' (Not Applicable).

Individual Details & Current Context

1. Full Name of Individual Being Screened:

2. Age:

3. Relationship to Individual (if completing for someone else):

4. Current Education Level / Main Activity:

5. Name of Professional Administering Screener:

6. Date of Screening Tool Completion:

Developmental Milestones & History

7. Briefly describe early developmental milestones (e.g., first words, walking, toilet training, early social interactions):

8. Is there any family history of developmental delays, learning difficulties, or neurodevelopmental conditions?

Yes No Not sure

9. Has the individual received any previous developmental support or assessments (e.g., speech therapy, OT, educational psychology)?

Yes No Not sure

Section 3: Developmental Domain Observations

Observe or discuss the individual's functioning across key developmental domains. Note any specific patterns of difficulty or strength. Consider age-appropriate expectations.

FOR PROFESSIONAL/PARENT USE ONLY: Observe/discuss and record observations/notes below.

Gross Motor Skills

1. Describe gross motor skills (e.g., balance, coordination, agility, participation in physical activities/sports):

Fine Motor Skills

2. Describe fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting, drawing, cutting, fastening clothes, using tools, typing):

Speech & Language / Communication

3. Describe speech, language, and communication skills (e.g., clarity of speech, vocabulary, sentence structure, understanding instructions, social communication):

Cognitive / Problem-Solving Skills

4. Describe cognitive/problem-solving skills (e.g., attention, memory, reasoning, academic learning, abstract thinking, planning):

Social-Emotional / Adaptive Skills

5. Describe social-emotional and adaptive skills (e.g., making friends, understanding emotions, self-regulation, independence in daily tasks, coping with change):

6. Overall Observations from Professional/Parent (Optional, but highly recommended):

Note any general observations: patterns across different settings/domains, specific triggers or calming strategies used, overall developmental profile.

Section 4: Strengths & Nurturing Strategies

This section explores the individual's unique strengths and existing ways of supporting their development.

Individual Strengths

1. Describe the individual's unique strengths, talents, or areas where they excel:

(e.g., specific academic strengths, creativity, musical talent, sports ability, strong verbal skills, empathy, practical skills, deep interests)

Existing Support & Adaptive Strategies

2. What support or strategies are currently in place that help the individual thrive?

(e.g., visual schedules, specific routines, quiet spaces, assistive technology, one-to-one support, particular teaching approaches)

3. What adaptive strategies or coping mechanisms does the individual use to manage challenges?

(e.g., asking for help, taking breaks, using fidget toys, seeking specific sensory input, relying on strengths in other areas)

Section 5: Findings & Recommendations

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY: Use this section to interpret findings and outline actionable recommendations based on the individual's responses and observations.

Overall Developmental Profile & Strengths:

Based on all sections, what is the individual's overall developmental profile, highlighting their key strengths and unique attributes?

Potential Indicators of Developmental Differences:

Based on the screening observations, are there consistent indicators of developmental differences in specific domains (e.g., motor, communication, cognitive, social-emotional)? (Refer to specific observations from Sections 2, 3, and 4). Avoid definitive diagnosis. Note age-specific manifestations.

Immediate Practical Strategies & Support (The Dynamic Development Plan in Action):

Suggest immediate, practical strategies for home, education, or workplace to support developmental growth. Focus on leveraging strengths and creating supportive environments. Tailor strategies to be age-appropriate where applicable.

Recommendations for Next Steps & Future Development:

What should happen next? Choose one or more options below and provide details.

Recommended Next Steps: Consult with GP/Paediatrician for assessment/referral
Consider Occupational Therapy (OT) referral
Consider Speech & Language Therapy referral
Consider Educational Psychologist referral
Discuss with school SENCo/Inclusion Manager
Consider workplace/educational adjustments
Other (please specify below)

Thank you for completing the General Developmental Screening Tool.

This tool is designed to empower you with understanding and practical pathways for your future.

Created by Lane Anthony

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General Developmental Screening Tool

Section 1: Introduction & Purpose

Who is this Screening Tool For?

What Will This Tool Do?

Important Information:

Our Strengths-Based Approach:

Section 2: Background & Developmental History

Individual Details & Current Context

Developmental Milestones & History

Section 3: Developmental Domain Observations

Gross Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skills

Speech & Language / Communication

Cognitive / Problem-Solving Skills

Social-Emotional / Adaptive Skills

Section 4: Strengths & Nurturing Strategies

Individual Strengths

Existing Support & Adaptive Strategies

Section 5: Findings & Recommendations

Overall Developmental Profile & Strengths:

Potential Indicators of Developmental Differences:

Immediate Practical Strategies & Support (The Dynamic Development Plan in Action):

Recommendations for Next Steps & Future Development:

DDP Generated Report

Sign up for Newsletter

General Developmental Screening Tool

Section 1: Introduction & Purpose

Who is this Screening Tool For?

What Will This Tool Do?

Important Information:

Our Strengths-Based Approach:

Section 2: Background & Developmental History

Individual Details & Current Context

Developmental Milestones & History

Section 3: Developmental Domain Observations

Gross Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skills

Speech & Language / Communication

Cognitive / Problem-Solving Skills

Social-Emotional / Adaptive Skills

Section 4: Strengths & Nurturing Strategies

Individual Strengths

Existing Support & Adaptive Strategies

Section 5: Findings & Recommendations

Overall Developmental Profile & Strengths:

Potential Indicators of Developmental Differences:

Immediate Practical Strategies & Support (The Dynamic Development Plan in Action):

Recommendations for Next Steps & Future Development:

DDP Generated Report

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