Frequently Asked Questions about the Schedule of Growing Skills
- What is SGS?
- How will SGS be used within the Flying Start setting?
- Who will complete the SGS assessments?
- I already use SGS. Has it been changed in any way for Flying Start?
- What is the purpose of the Additional Skills section?
- What does the SGS kit contain?
- Will I have to share my SGS kit?
- When will I receive my SGS kit? Do I have to order
it?
Answers to Frequently asked Questions about the Schedule of Growing Skills
1. What is SGS?
The Schedule of Growing Skills II (SGS) is a developmental screening tool for use with children at any age from 0-5 years. It is based on the well-known & respected STYCAR sequences designed by Dr Mary Sheridan and provides a standardised assessment tool that is used by a range of health care professionals (health visitors, nursery nurses, paediatricians, GPs). It is accurate, reliable and easy to use.
SGS is primarily used in first and secondary level developmental assessment and by providing accurate information about a child’s development across a range of areas, can help to identify children with potential development delays. Although not an in-depth diagnostic tool, SGS can be used to provide diagnostic pointers to the nature of a child’s problem. The developmental areas it measures are:
• Postural (passive and active)
• Locomotor
• Manipulative
• Visual
• Hearing
• Speech and language
• Social skills (interactive and self-care)
2. How will SGS be used within the Flying Start setting?
SGS will be used as a screening & assessment tool to measure the progress children make after spending one year in a Flying Start setting. Children will be assessed at 2 years of age as they enter the Flying Start setting, to establish a baseline of their abilities and development. They will then be assessed again at 3 years of age as they leave the Flying Start setting. The ultimate aim is to use the SGS as a measure of progress made throughout the year.
3. Who will complete the SGS assessments?
It is generally intended that
• Flying Start health visitors will complete the first assessments
(2 years) in a home setting
• Flying Start child care workers will complete the second assessment
(3 years) in a Flying Start setting
However, if the Flying Start setting has concerns throughout the year that the child has emerging additional clinical needs, it would be appropriate to invite in the Flying Start health visitor for the second or any interim assessment.
Flexibility should therefore exist for the second assessment to be carried out in the Flying Start setting by Flying Start health visitors, involving the setting and the parents / carers in discussion of the observational items.
4. I already use SGS. Has it been changed in any way
for Flying Start?
Yes. SGS has been customised specifically for the Flying Start project. The main changes are:
• The creation of an Additional Skills section. This contains 8 new items that can easily be administered at any time of the assessment. These items have been included so that any fine progress being made by children at the top end of the scale can be recorded accurately and sensitively.
• Colour has been added to the Picture Book to make it more engaging for the children.
• The Record and Profile Form have been redesigned to be bilingual (English & Welsh)
• The User’s Guide has been redesigned into a handy and user-friendly A4 format. As well as step-by-step instructions on how to administer each item, the User’s Guide now also includes an additional 12 case studies on how SGS can be used, plus a chapter on child health surveillance, screening in context and further screening procedures.
• Each kit will contain both an English and Welsh edition of the User’s Guide.
5. What is the purpose of the Additional Skills section?
The Additional Skills section was created in order to measure any fine progress that is being made by children at the top end of the scale. There is sometimes a big gap between the items relevant for 3- 5 year olds and the skills that they are expected to achieve. In instances where the child is unable to achieve a higher item, the Additional Skills section will help to provide a measure of any progress that has been made.
6. What does the SGS kit contain?
The customised Flying Start kit will contain:
• Stimulus materials
• Picture book
• An English and Welsh edition of the User’s Guide
The kit will not contain any Profile or Record Forms. These will be distributed by your Flying Start co-ordinator. Please contact your local co-ordinator should you require additional forms.
7. Will I have to share my SGS kit?
No. Each Flying Start professional will receive their own customised SGS kit.
8. When will I receive my SGS kit? Do I have to order
it?
No. You will receive your customised SGS kit when you attend the
compulsory SGS training.
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