Coventry Alternative Provision (CAP): a graduated model of support 2025 to 2026

Early Help is a partnership of organisations that provide help, advice and support to children, young people and families.

The aim of Early Help is to help you as soon as possible and prevent problems from getting worse by providing you support, as early as possible. Early Help services can help families, children and young people - pre-birth to 19 years old and 25 years old where there are special educational needs or disabilities.

Requirements at each Tier

Tier 1 – universal offer

School should be raising awareness of and promoting the universal Early Help offer. Using the Coventry Families App and sharing the family hub offer with parents.

Tier 2 – targeted support

Schools should be gaining consent from the identified families and recording on EHM, making an early help offer to the families and, where suitable, include the completion of an early help assessment and plan – this is likely to be partnership led.

Tier 3 – time-limited placement

Schools proactively gaining consent from families as part of the Tier 3 process and the early help offer is integral to those families not already on a plan with Children’s Services – this could be Supporting Families Team or Partnership led.

Tier 4 – transitional placement

The needs of the families and the young person at Tier 4 is likely to be indicative of the necessity for a plan; families not supported through a CP plan or a CIN plan will need a proactive Early Help offer with an assessment and plan. The Early Help offer at this stage is likely, but not exclusively, to be Supporting Families Team led.