Children do not always receive the support they need at school as early as they could. Families and teachers can face delays while waiting for assessments, diagnoses or specialist support. The Electronic Developmental Support Passport (EDSP) aims to help schools identify children’s strengths and needs earlier and take practical steps to support them, without requiring a diagnosis first.
What is already known about the subject
Research using education and health records has shown that information collected through routine school assessments can help identify children who may have additional developmental needs later in childhood. The EDSP builds on this evidence by using teachers’ observations to develop a broader picture of children’s strengths and support needs. This free, open-source digital tool has already been co-produced with teachers, families, clinicians and educational psychologists, and trialled in 42 Bradford schools. The next stage will examine how reliably the tool identifies and describes needs, whether it adds useful information to existing records, and how effectively it can be implemented across all Bradford primary schools.
Who we will be working with
The project brings together schools, families, children and young people, health professionals, researchers, Bradford Council and other local partners. PPIE and co-production will help shape the research throughout. Families, school staff and people with relevant lived experience will advise on language, accessibility, how the tool is used and the design of support resources. Children and young people will also be invited to share their views through appropriate, age-sensitive activities.
What we will do
Over 24 months, we will refine the EDSP, introduce it across Bradford primary schools in stages, and evaluate how well it works in practice. We will examine how information recorded by teachers relates to existing education and health records, using securely linked data. We will also develop practical guidance for schools, families and clinicians through Healthier Together.
What the benefit and impact will be
The research aims to help schools recognise needs earlier, improve communication between families, schools and health services, and connect children with appropriate support. It will also identify what helps or hinders implementation and provide learning that could benefit other areas.
When the findings will be available
The project began in July 2026 and will run for 24 months, with final outputs expected by June 2028.
How we are planning for knowledge mobilisation and implementation
We will share learning throughout the project through school guidance, accessible family summaries, professional resources, policy briefings and partnership workshops. Feedback from families, schools and professionals will help refine the tool and resources, supporting their practical use locally and informing wider implementation.
Study duration:
01/09/2026-07/2028
The project is led by Professor John Wright, Director of Research, Bradford Institute for Health Research
