A joint assessment meeting (JAM) is part of the statutory education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment for children and young people who may need additional help and support with their learning and education.
If you wish, you can download and print a version of this guide as a PDF document.
A JAM is where you and adults that know you well come together at your school or setting to talk about:
The first part of the meeting focuses on your views and lasts 10-20 minutes. You may want to leave once this part of the meeting has finished; however, you are welcome to stay longer. The meeting will be a maximum of two hours long.
The meeting will be led by an educational psychologist. From the meeting, the educational psychologist will write advice for your teacher(s) and other professionals on what could help you at school to overcome things that you currently find difficult.
Before the JAM, think or talk with someone close to you (this might be a parent or carer or a staff member) about what you’d like to share about yourself, if you are comfortable, at the meeting. You could write these down to bring with you to the meeting or for an adult to take to the JAM on your behalf.
The educational psychologist may come and visit you at school or college or at home before the meeting and do some work with you. They will talk about this in the JAM.
An educational psychologist helps find ways to support you in areas of your learning that you may find difficult. You can learn more about what an educational psychologist does by watching this short video.