EAPDR Training For Those Involved In Running The S&I District Model
Notice
This document has been transformed into a web page for your convenience. It is intended for use in training sessions conducted via Teams. Please see a copy of the original version at the bottom of this page.
Introduction
Dr Halit Hulusi, Head of SEND, Staffordshire County Council:
- Purpose of the session
- Questions: Please ask your questions via Teams chat, and give a thumbs up if you see a question you wanted to ask
- There may also be time for Q&A, following the presentation
- FAQ document to be produced and shared following all training sessions
This session is to support:
- Hub Chairs
- LMG Chairs
- ISPB Chairs
- EPDOs
- Business Support Officers
- Commissioners by explaining their role re EAPDR
EAPDR: The Why (Our North Stars)
- To improve the quality of the pre statutory assessment and APDR model
- To have earlier support to meet the needs of children, including non-statutory support
- To improve co-production in the assessment and review approach
- To improve timeliness of EHCNA’s, and to ensure the right children receive the right support
- To improve the quality of EHCNA’s
- To improve multi-disciplinary working and partnerships, and remove / reduce duplication of information capture (across all points of this model)
- To place holistic outcomes at the very start of the assessment process
The High Level Process
There is an interim aspect to the process from January, i.e. the one form in Microsoft Word.
- School sends Hub referral to existing S&I Hub Inboxes.
- District Bus Sup prepare and send out Hub agenda.
- Hub meeting takes place (EAPDR could be recommended at subsequent meetings).
- District Bus Sup update One Form for each child, plus a general template for Hub minutes.
- School implement recommendations and reply to Hub Inbox.
- If Hub says EAPDR Yes – District Bus Sup send to Panel.
- Panel meeting takes place.
- District Bus Sup update form with outcome of panel meeting, and inform school.
- School arrange Enhanced Assess & Plan Meeting.
- Requirements for enhanced Do Phase are passed onto Commissioner.
- Enhanced Review meeting to determine next steps.
EAPDR and The S&I District Model
There will be some changes, some additions and some things that stay the same. We are adding EAPDR to the model which will clearly raise capacity issues. We will probably need to adapt but we need some experience of the model with EAPDR in it before agreeing those adaptations. What we know so far re various elements of the model will now follow:
Finance
INF and AEN:
Existing funding used for INF and AEN will be repurposed to support cycles of EAPDR from January 2024.
Specialist Outreach Pot:
From April 2024, existing funding for Specialist Outreach will be repurposed to fund SEDIS, which is accessed through the EAPDR process.
Strategic Pot:
As now, districts will work with their Commissioner to identify themes and trends, and commissioning activity will look to address the particular needs of each district. From September 2024 this will be accessed through the Staffordshire Children and Young People’s Flexible Framework.
* See below dropdowns for information:
- Answer:
What are the mechanisms of support available from January 2024?
I. January 2024. Individual Needs Funding (INF) ceases and the Enhanced Assess Plan Do Review (EAPDR) Pathway commences.
II. January 2024 – March 2024. Existing district budgets allocated to respond to INF requests, to be utilised to fund cycles of EAPDR.
III. January 2024 – March 2024. Funding available through the Strategic and Specialist Outreach Pot remain available.
IV. January 2024 – July 2024. Existing commissioned provision in each district will remain in place and will have already been funded, until they end in July 2024.
V. September 2024. Staffordshire Enhanced District Inclusion Support (SEDIS) teams will start to be in place for Districts to utilise through cycles of EAPDR.
VI. September 2024. The Staffordshire Children & Young People’s Flexible Framework (the Framework) will be in place for Districts to utilise through use of their strategic pot.
Will EAPDR be available to those pupils with Inclusion needs?
EAPDR will be available to both pupils presenting with SEN and Inclusion Needs. At the Plan stage of the cycle, the team around the child will determine the provision that is most suitable for the needs of the child.
However, LMGs will be encouraged to use the strategic budget available to them to commission appropriate district provision to address these needs and where suitable provision is in place, pupils should access this prior to an EPADR request.
What provision will be available for pupils through SEND & Inclusion?
Provision includes (but is not limited to):
I. SEDIS Teams – supporting mainstream schools through an outreach model, and in some instances a short term in reach placement.
II. Educational Psychology Service (EPS) – in addition to EPS supporting at the Planning and Review stage of the cycle, a variety of provision will be available for the Do stage of the cycle.
III. Specialist Teaching Support Service (STSS) – supporting with Social Communication and Intervention Early Intervention.
IV. Staffordshire Children and Young People’s Flexible Framework – will host a wide range of provision available for individual pupils and for provision required for districts through use of the strategic pot, this is currently being developed but is thought to include:
a. Lot 1. Targeted Intervention Programmes
b. Lot 2. Therapeutic Intervention
c. Lot 3. Skill Development
d. Lot 4. Specialist Support
Provision across these 4 Lots aims to mirror the types of provision districts currently commission through INF or Strategic pot that are outside of the scope of SEDIS / EPS and STSS.
V. Existing Alternative Provision Resource Bases
- Answer:
EAPDR will be available to both pupils presenting with SEN and Inclusion Needs. At the Plan stage of the cycle, the team around the child will determine the provision that is most suitable for the needs of the child.
However, LMGs will be encouraged to use the strategic budget available to them to commission appropriate district provision to address these needs and where suitable provision is in place, pupils should access this prior to an EPADR request.
- Answer:
Provision includes (but is not limited to):
- SEDIS Teams – supporting mainstream schools through an outreach model, and in some instances a short term in reach placement.
- Educational Psychology Service (EPS) – in addition to EPS supporting at the Planning and Review stage of the cycle, a variety of provision will be available for the Do stage of the cycle.
- Specialist Teaching Support Service (STSS) – supporting with Social Communication and Intervention Early Intervention.
- Staffordshire Children and Young People’s Flexible Framework – will host a wide range of provision available for individual pupils and for provision required for districts through use of the strategic pot, this is currently being developed but is thought to include:
- Lot 1 - Targeted Intervention Programmes
- Lot 2 - Skill development
- Lot 3 - Specialist support
Provision across these 3 Lots aims to mirror the types of provision districts currently commission through INF or Strategic pot that are outside of the scope of SEDIS / EPS and STSS.
- Existing alternative provision resource bases.
Referral / Form
Future arrangement: An online “one form” based process linking all involved, school, family, services etc. Probably won’t be ready until September 2024.
Interim arrangement: An extended version of the current Hub Referral Form to cover the whole process from initial hub referral to conclusion of process (this process is outlined on a previous slide and there is a more detailed process map for use with Business Support in particular).
The Role of Hubs
What is…..
The same? Receive referrals, discuss, recommend, review. Capacity to call on strategic funds.
In addition? Capacity to recommend EAPDR (to be covered below)
Removed? Capacity to recommend INF.
Impact on Hub capacity:
Likely to increase referrals and discussion time initially until the wider impact of EAPDR settles. As such, we monitor impact, review and adapt as necessary.
Advice On Decision Making Re Recommending EAPDR
- Evidence of significant need
- Evidence of targeted support in that specific area of need
- Sought specialist advice (Hub, EPS, AIT etc)
- Evidence of implementation of said advice
- Good quality APDR cycles, including targets in specific area of need and targeted advice, which have been reviewed
- Use of notional SEND budget
The Role of The LMG
What is…
The same as now? Strategic lead for the district and needs analysis, voice for the district, hub monitoring, feed up/down to and from ISPB, consider individual escalations, allocation of strategic finance.
Different? No INF considerations, no direct engagement of specialist outreach but involvement in the EAPDR decision making process via a central EAPDR panel (at least initially we won’t ask LMGs to consider all their hubs’ recommendations), monitor district engagement with EAPDR and Whole School SEND developments.
The Role of The ISPB
What is….
The same? ISPB continues to be the governance layer of the S&I District Model, receiving reports/updates/information from LMG in order to monitor strategy and outcomes for the district and act as a conduit to the wider LA SEND and Inclusion system. ISPB will still need to monitor strategic spending in their district.
Different? More of the finance will be driven centrally through EAPDR and SEDIS so that aspect of finance will be less direct for ISPBs to consider but ISPB will monitor this aspect through consideration of their district’s engagement with EAPDR/SEDIS.
Commissioning Role
- Service districts re strategic spend through the commissioning of services via the new Staffordshire Children and Young People Flexible Framework.
- Procurement for specific district requests.
- Support EAPDR via procurement of appropriate support requested at the “do” phase.
- Developing into 1 commissioning officer role for all 8 districts (under the SEND Commissioning Manager) rather than 8 commissioners with a district each as part of their wider role.
Business Support Role
What is….
Same? Manage all meetings as now with EPDO and Chair of meeting, minute/record actions from meetings and distribute accordingly.
New/Interim? Managing the process of the interim Word based “one form” liaising with a central panel business support officer.*
New/Future? Manage referrals and EAPDR requests/recommendations on the new online “one form” from September 2024.
* a specific training session will be delivered on this
EPDO Role
What is….
Same? Manage all meetings as now with Business Support and Chair of meeting, carry out usual background checks, support the meetings with advice based on EPDO experience and expertise.
New/Interim? Supporting with the initial EAPDR process based on the interim Word based “one form”.
New/Future? Support with referrals and EAPDR requests/recommendations on the new online “one form” from September 2024.
Moving Forward
The EAPDR Pathway is part of a change in process and practise which we expect to be transformational within the SEND and Inclusion system in Staffordshire.
As such it challenges us and our systems and processes.
We recognise risks to address and that there will be further risk to manage as we develop.
We are immensely grateful for all the passion, commitment and hard work from all those involved in the S&I District Model.
Downloadable version
Please see below printable version of this information.
EAPDR training - printable version (1.8 MB)