Observation + Intervention

How an Observation Process Works

The Observation is a structured 10-day assessment period. Its purpose is to understand your child carefully before any intervention plan is started.

Every child is different. Before deciding what support may be helpful, we need time to understand your child’s strengths, preferences, learning style, developmental needs, and areas of risk. We do not want to place unnecessary pressure on a child or begin intervention without a clear strategy.

Week 1: Exploration and Preference Assessment

During the first week, our priority is to help your child become familiar with the SENBOX environment and the teaching team.

We explore your child’s interests, preferences, communication style, behaviour, sensory needs, and response to different activities. We also observe what motivates your child and which teaching approaches help your child feel comfortable and engaged.

This stage is important because children learn best when they feel safe, understood, and respected.

Week 2: Academic Skills and Developmental Assessment

During the second week, we focus more closely on your child’s current skills and developmental needs.

Depending on the child’s age and abilities, this may include:

• communication and language

• attention and ability to follow instructions

• reading, writing, numeracy, and academic readiness

• fine-motor and gross-motor skills

• social interaction and play skills

• self-care and daily living skills

• emotional regulation

• behaviour and safety awareness

• independence and response to support

Teachers record what your child can do independently, what support is needed, and which strategies appear to be effective.

Why We Do Not Rush the Process

A child’s wellbeing must always come first. A child’s emotional and developmental needs are delicate. If a child is pushed too quickly or too strongly without a clear strategy, the child may become distressed, lose confidence, or develop negative associations with learning. Recovering from this can take additional time.

For this reason, SENBOX does not rush into intervention. We first observe, collect evidence, review the information carefully, and develop a structured plan.

Comprehensive Observation Report

After the 10 observation days are completed, the SENBOX team requires approximately 7 days to prepare a comprehensive report.

Our reports do more than simply state whether a child performed “well” or “poorly.” We provide an objective account of the child’s current situation. The report identifies:

• strengths and existing abilities

• areas where support is needed

• possible developmental or behavioural risks

• effective teaching strategies

• the level of support required

• relevant data and evidence collected during the observation period

The purpose is to give the family a professional, accurate, and transparent understanding of the child’s current needs.

Development of the Individualised Education Plan

Based on the observation report, SENBOX develops an Individualised Education Plan (IEP).

The IEP explains:

• the priorities for your child

• the goals we recommend

• the teaching strategies we propose

• the support level required

• how progress will be measured

• what SENBOX plans to do during the intervention period

The IEP is discussed with the family before intervention begins.

Parent Agreement and Consent

No intervention starts automatically after the observation.

We only begin working according to the IEP after the family has reviewed the recommendations and provided agreement and consent.

This principle is very important to us: your child is your child. Parents and legal guardians have the right to understand the proposed support, ask questions, and make informed decisions. No professional should attempt to influence a child’s learning, behaviour, or development without the family’s knowledge and consent.

The purpose of the SENBOX Observation is to create a careful, respectful, and evidence-based foundation for your child’s next steps.

Intervention:

Turning Each Day Into Meaningful Progress

After the family has reviewed the Individualised Education Plan and provided agreement and consent, the intervention period begins.

At SENBOX, intervention is not a collection of random activities. Each session is selected for a specific reason and linked to the goals identified in your child’s IEP.

Structured 15-Minute Learning Sessions

The daily programme is organised into carefully planned learning blocks, usually lasting up to 15 minutes.

Short, focused sessions help children remain engaged while allowing the teaching team to balance different areas of development throughout the day. Each activity is adapted to the child’s current level and designed to build achievable skills step by step.

A single activity may support several areas at the same time. For example, a cooking activity may help a child develop communication, sequencing, fine-motor skills, safety awareness, independence, and daily living skills.

Nothing happens without a purpose. Time is not left to pass without direction. Childhood is a unique and important stage of life. We aim to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities and learning opportunities into skills that can support the child for many years.

A Balanced Programme

Each child’s programme includes a balance of individual sessions, focused teaching sessions, group activities, and practical daily routines.

Depending on the child’s needs, the programme may include:

• communication and language

• academic learning

• social interaction

• play and group participation

• toileting and personal care

• food acceptance and eating routines

• sleep-related routines and family guidance

• emotional regulation

• behaviour support

• fine-motor and gross-motor development

• independence and daily living skills

• safety awareness

The goal is not only to help the child complete tasks inside the classroom. The goal is to develop practical skills that can improve the child’s quality of life at home, at school, and in the wider community.

Data-Guided Decision-Making

SENBOX collects data throughout the intervention period.

Teachers record what the child is able to do independently, what support is required, how the child responds to different strategies, and how skills develop over time.

This information helps the team answer important questions:

• Is the child making progress?

• Is the current teaching strategy effective?

• Does the support level need to be adjusted?

• Is the child becoming more independent?

• Are there new strengths or risks that need attention?

• Which goals should be continued, adapted, or replaced?

Data helps us move beyond assumptions. It allows us to review the intervention objectively and improve the support provided to the child.

A Professional Team Around the Child

SENBOX teachers do not work alone and they do not guess the next step.

Each teacher works as part of a structured team. Teachers receive supervised training and ongoing guidance to help them understand how to instruct, support, and respond to each child appropriately.

The teaching team works together with the EDU team to review evidence, discuss concerns, monitor progress, and improve strategies. Where necessary, the programme also considers the perspectives of the family and other professionals involved in the child’s care.

There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. SENBOX follows this principle. To overcome barriers to learning, we must work together across different areas of expertise and provide consistent support around the child.

Daily Updates and Comprehensive Progress Reports

Families receive regular updates about their child’s activities and development.

However, daily updates alone are not enough. A list of activities or general comments cannot show whether an intervention is truly effective.

For this reason, SENBOX also prepares comprehensive progress reports. These reports show the child’s development between the beginning and the end of the reporting period. They describe changes in skills, independence, behaviour, communication, and support needs.

A professional progress report should not only say that a child had a “good day” or enjoyed an activity. It should help the family understand:

• what the child has learned

• what has changed over time

• what remains difficult

• which strategies are working

• what evidence supports the conclusions

• what the next priorities should be

Parents should never be expected to approve an intervention simply because they receive general updates or because the child appears happy. Families deserve clear information, objective evidence, and a transparent explanation of how the intervention is helping their child.

With SENBOX, progress is not assumed. It is observed, documented, reviewed, and explained.