Early intervention means identifying and providing effective early support to babies and young children (0-5 years) who are at risk of having a developmental delay or children who have been diagnosed with a condition which leads to a developmental delay. The principle is to minimise children’s developmental delays and maximise their chances of reaching typical milestones in development. Early Intervention has its strongest impact when offered during the first few years of life.

The Early Intervention service provides early intervention support to babies and young children (0-5 years) with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.

Early Intervention service is best given in the young child’s natural learning environment. Thus, for children from birth to age 3, early intervention support is given in the child’s home or in the childcare centre they attend since children learn and develop best in the place they are most familiar with, and with the people they love and care for them. Moreover, having Early Intervention at home will allow practitioners to help parents support their child’s development through everyday activities.

For children aged 3 to 5 years, the Early Intervention service is provided in the kindergarten setting they attend.

Children are eligible for the Early Intervention service if they are showing difficulties in two or more of the following areas of development:

  • Physical (gross and fine motor)
  • Communication and Language
  • Self-Help, Social and Emotional
  • Cognitive (reasoning, problem-solving, memory, attention, pre-numeracy and pre-literacy skills)

For children from birth to age 3, the Early Intervention service has an open referral system i.e. parents / legal guardians, educators from childcare centres, and professionals can refer a child to the Early Intervention Service. A referral form, which includes a signed consent from the child’s parents/guardians, needs to be filled in so that a child can be considered as eligible for the Early Intervention Service. This can be accessed online from The Ministry for Education’ website https://educationservices.gov.mt/en/NSSS/Documents/Early%20Intervention%20Referral%20-%20English.pdf

The filled-in application, as well as the consent form, can be sent either online or posted to: National School Support Services, Fra Gaetano Pace Forno Street, Hamrun HMR 1100.

For children aged 3 to 5 years, no referral form is needed. All children who attend Kindergarten 1 and 2 and are experiencing developmental difficulties/delays or are finding it difficult to fully engage in the kindergarten educational programme are supported by the Early Intervention practitioner supporting the school.

Every primary school is assigned an Early Intervention practitioner. The Early Intervention practitioner liaises with the Assistant Head responsible for the kindergarten years regarding children with a disability, children encountering developmental delays or children who are finding it difficult to fully engage with the kindergarten curriculum. A whole-school approach to Early Intervention is implemented.

The main responsibilities of the Early Intervention practitioner include:

    • promoting inclusion and participation of all kindergarten children and identifying priority goals for kinder classes,
    • supporting KGEs to modify the classroom environment so that all children in class are included effectively,
    • supporting KGEs and LSEs to embed strategies within the emergent curriculum,
    • small activity groups to promote successful participation / inclusion of children encountering developmental difficulties / delays,
    • support to parents/legal guardians and educators
    • participating in MAPs/IEPs,
    • implementing transitions from home to childcare/kindergarten,
    • information meetings for parents and training sessions for KGEs and LSEs supporting children in kindergarten classes
  • intervention on an individual basis for children with identified additional needs – usually those who have been diagnosed with more complex needs.