Extracts and your form

When you run an document analysis on your Vault documents, one of the outputs is a set of DLA-relevant extracts, passages from professional reports that describe your child's needs in language that maps directly to DLA criteria.

These extracts are collected in the DLA Helper and organised by the part of the form they are most relevant to. They give you ready-to-reference professional language to use alongside your own description.

How extracts are identified

SENVault looks for passages in your documents that describe:

• Daily living needs (feeding, washing, dressing, communication, continence, supervision)
• Mobility needs (walking, balance, stamina, awareness of danger)
• Frequency and duration of needs
• Impact on the child and family
• Professional assessments of level of independence

These are mapped to the relevant DLA care and mobility component questions.

Using extracts in your answers

Extracts are not a substitute for your own description, they are supporting evidence. The most effective DLA applications combine:

1. Your description: specific, detailed, in your own words, describing what you actually do
2. Professional corroboration: an extract from an OT report, SALT assessment, or paediatric letter that confirms the same need

For example, if you describe that your child cannot manage mealtimes without close supervision, an extract from an OT assessment stating "significant difficulties with self-regulation during feeding requiring adult co-regulation throughout meal times" strongly supports your account.

Viewing and selecting extracts

In the DLA Helper, each question section includes an Extracts panel. This shows AI-identified extracts relevant to that section, with the source document and page reference. You can:

• Review the extract in context (opens the document at the relevant page)
• Add to your record: attach the extract to your DLA answer as supporting evidence
• Dismiss: if the extract is not relevant or accurate, dismiss it from this section

Evidence you should gather proactively

If your document analysis did not identify extracts for a particular section, this may mean:

• You do not yet have a professional report covering that area
• The report you have does not use sufficiently specific language
• The document has not yet been uploaded and analysed

In these cases, consider whether a letter from a professional, your child's GP, paediatrician, or therapist, specifically addressing the DLA criteria would strengthen your application.