SEND Newsletter April 2024
Welcome to the Summer term 2024! This year has already seen some major changes and improvements in the world of SEND in Staffordshire. In January, we saw the launch of Enhanced Assess Plan Do Review (EADPR). We have seen lots of requests from schools. I’m pleased to share that over 90 children are now receiving this enhanced support to build on the already great work their schools have put in place to meet their SEND and inclusion needs. This term, we will be providing each district with bespoke data setting out how EAPDR support is being used. We will also be running further face to face solution sessions in schools for SENCos and senior school leaders to help them access EAPDR.
I am also pleased to share with you news that the 8 District SEND teams have completed 99% of the pre-16 phase transfers for children with an EHC Plan moving to new schools and settings in September 2024. This is the second year in a row that the teams have hit this high mark and an amazing achievement for this extremely busy team!
On the 7 May, we will be hosting the Department of Education and NHS England for our 2 year review of Staffordshire’s Accelerated Progress Plan. I’m particularly looking forward to this session as I want to share all the work we have been doing including the impact of EAPDR and the launch of the SEDIS teams in the 8 districts. We are now close to sharing who these teams will be and when they will commence their work with their district schools.
This is going to be another busy term for all partners in Staffordshire. Watch this space and other communication channels for further updates from SEND services.
Regards,
Dr. Halit Hulusi | Head of SEND - Staffordshire County Council
A Staffordshire Children and Young People's Flexible Framework is being established to commence in September 2024. This framework will be home to a variety of quality-assured services that can be accessed as and when needed, for a variety of purposes such as for cycles of EAPDR or for strategic projects commissioned by SEND & Inclusion Locality Management Groups (LMGs). The services on the framework will look to support children and young people with additional needs either due to their SEND needs or for those who are at risk of exclusion, with the aim to support and facilitate continued access to a mainstream placement. Earlier this year, the framework went out to tender, and the response has been exceptional, with 41 bids received from potential providers. During April and May there is a period of evaluation and moderation, with hope to enter into contracts around July time, ready for a September 2024 start.
Staffordshire County Council reached out to all educational settings to understand the interest in delivering the new Staffordshire Enhanced District Inclusion Support (SEDIS) Model across the 8 districts on November 13. The response was fantastic, with 21 expressions of interest received from educational settings and groups before the December 18, 2023 deadline. An evaluation panel carefully scored and moderated the expressions of interest, ultimately selecting 9 prospective providers to proceed to Stage 2 interviews, which were conducted in March 2024. The interviews were overwhelmingly positive, with prospective providers expressing enthusiasm and excitement about implementing the SEDIS model. Looking ahead, the next steps involve taking recommendations through the governance process for formal approval. The outcome of this process is expected to be announced in May 2024. Simultaneously, work continues behind the scenes to develop the operational details for the SEDIS Operating Model.
Six proposals have received approval to create 91 additional special school places. These projects are currently in the process of being commissioned. The aim is to enhance local provision for children and young people in Staffordshire who require specialised educational support. By expanding these special schools, the community will benefit from improved access to tailored education and resources.
2024 Phase Transfers of Education Health and Care Plans
Phase Transfers are a statutory process through the annual review pathway that is completed every year when a student with an EHCP moves from one educational setting to another e.g. from primary to high school. We have two statutory dates we must comply with being February (pre 16) and March (post 16), by these dates we must have amended the EHCP, identified and consulted with new settings and finalised the Plan naming those settings for the next September.
The teams worked extremely hard to meet the first completion date and to support our children/young people and parents and carers. Together with this hard work and the hard work from settings I am pleased to advise that as of the 15th February pre 16 Phase Transfer deadline, 98% of children transferring to their new setting in September this year have a completed phase transfer and amended and finalised EHCP naming their setting. Knowing their new setting by statutory deadline day will support children and their families to engage in appropriate transition planning to their new setting. As a Local Authority we are continuing to work through finalising plans for those final few children and young people and we are continuing to work to through the remaining post 16 transfers.
2025 Phase Transfers of Education Health and Care Plans
To continue to support this achievement we are already starting on planning as a team around our 2025 Phase transfers. You will shortly receive in the school bag a communication around coordination of the 2025 phase transfers so that parents and young people can continue to be supported and the Local Authority will be in the best position to meet statutory deadlines. Please keep a look out for this communication, this will also be added to the local offer as well as shared at events such as the SENCO network sessions.
We welcomed three of our new assistants for EAPDR last week; Caroline in Newcastle and Moorlands, Nicki in Stafford and South Staffs, Megan in Burton and Tamworth and Anna will join us in Lichfield and Cannock today. We are also looking forward to two new Educational Psychologists joining us from our successful recruitment in March, meaning we will have 4 new Educational Psychologists joining us in September.
Thank you all for your requests for traded subscriptions, which closed just before Easter. Requests were at a record high for 2024-5, and we will cover approximately 87% of Staffordshire schools in the new academic year. We will be in touch with you all about link Educational Psychologists and Service level agreements for schools on Monday 20 May.
This term we are focused on our outcomes from the work we have done over the year. We will have more news on this later in the term (and be asking for your feedback), although some of the highlights are children making 10 months progress in one term with the EPATT, (with Educational Psychologists shortlisted for the innovations awards for this work) and another favourite comment from the early Years emotion coaching project: ‘I have found emotion coaching so helpful. Giving a child time is so important, time to express themselves, express how they feel, and they regulate themselves beautifully . It's made a difference’.
The Autism Inclusion Team have again delivered very well received parent sessions on behalf of the National Autistic Society (NAS). The sessions were attended by parents of autistic children aged 5-9 (Early Bird Plus) and teenagers (Teen Life) at the Families First Centre. The sessions ran between eight and ten weeks and explored a variety of important topics including sensory issues, communication and behaviour. As well as picking up some useful strategies the parents also enjoyed the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation and to have the chance to talk with people who understood! The NAS sessions are free to parents and will run again next academic year.
Parent training sessions have also been delivered regarding Autism Awareness and Acceptance and Raising Self-Esteem at Bilbrook and Codsall Community Fire Station during the Spring Term. The sessions were well attended, with parents travelling from as far afield as Tamworth to participate. The sessions provide an opportunity for parents to not only increase their own knowledge of autism, but also to share experiences of raising autistic children and young people. Autistic voices are at the centre of the training package, with the key message being ‘embracing difference’.
The AIT Team offers a wide variety of well-respected training to school staff and are delivering a number of bitesize training sessions again this term at a cost of £10 / per person, please refer to ‘school bag’ for full details of the courses on offer or alternatively email below to request a flyer direct.
Further information on our training offer can be obtained by emailing:
sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
Due to demand from settings and as mentioned previously in the ‘School Bag’ this term sees the launch of our ‘Best Value’ Traded offer for AIT support. Initially packages of support will be limited to one per setting to ensure we maintain equity and fairness across the LA. Here is the booking link if you have previously missed this. Please discuss all requests in advance with your Specialist Teacher of Autism who will be able to advise further.
Click here for AIT Support Package Booking Form
Kate Prinold
Autism Inclusion Team Lead
As the Summer Term begins and the weather starts to warm up, the Hearing Inclusion Team are planning some great events for our children and young people across the county.
At the end of April, the East of the county is hosting our annual Family Event at The Meadowside Leisure Centre. This event sees our younger children enjoying the soft play equipment, the older students challenge themselves on the Clip ‘n Climb walls and our students and families have the opportunity to meet up with other families in an informal setting, giving them the opportunity to socialise and share experiences.
The South Staffordshire Deaf Children’s Society (SSDCS) are once again, very kindly supporting us with funding to make the event affordable for our families. We thank them for their ongoing support and fundraising activities.
We continue to host our early years parent groups and other events are in the pipeline!
If you would like to know any more about these events, please speak to your Child or Young Person’s Teacher of the Deaf or contact the team at sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
Moira Cooper
Deaf/ Hearing Inclusion Team Lead
VI Transition Day
1 February saw the Vision Inclusion Team reinstate an all-important transition day for students in Year 9 to Year 13. The day was attended by over 20 students from across Staffordshire settings and presentations were given from Blind in Business, Local Colleges and STSS Team Members. Talks were delivered on a range of topics including Access to Work, Pathways to Employment and Applications to University.
Some interesting mock interviews were held highlighting the do’s and don’ts when facing an interview situation and adults shared their lived experiences of education and working with vision loss.
The day ended with the students being joined by their parents and carers to listen to an introductory talk from MPFT Adult Sensory Support Service. This workshop explained how young people and their families can continue to access support and advice into adulthood whilst residing in Staffordshire.
The feedback we have had has been overwhelmingly positive, and it was a great opportunity to gather our young people together.
Many thanks to our Staffordshire Settings for allowing pupils to be released for the day in order to attend. We hope to run this on a bi-annual basis going forwards.
Donna McNaughton
Vision Inclusion Team Lead
sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
This offer is for pupils either with a diagnosis of Autism or those who have been identified as having social communication and interaction needs and have been referred into the Autism diagnostic pathway. It facilitates a ‘waiting well’ approach and an EHCP or formal diagnosis is not required to access this support. Requests for involvement should be made directly into the Specialist Teaching Support Service office or alternatively you can book ‘best value’ packages of support via the MS FORMS link at the end of this document. Should an EHCNA be required this support is also available via the Staffordshire EAPDR mechanism.
Traded Offer
Staffordshire pupils either with or without a diagnosis of Autism may benefit from additional Specialist input in addition to the Core Offer. This specialist support may include but is not limited to:
- 1:1 Pupil Sessions and small group work.
- Post diagnostic work, understanding the diagnosis.
- Anxiety management /emotional regulation mentoring.
- Modelling and support to implement recommendations.
- Social Skills development sessions, Lego, Play-Doh, Circle of friends etc.
- Peer mentoring, student ambassador training and support groups.
- Observations and recommendation reports outside of those during initial take up report.
- Attendance at staff meetings / parent meetings /coffee mornings
- Transition visits
- Support with positive behaviour plans, risk assessments and environmental audits.
- Preparation of resources to support inclusion within settings e.g. visual timetables, first, next, then boards / prompt keyrings.
- Any whole staff training required by the setting e.g. creating inclusive environments, sensory spaces etc. (Please refer to AIT Training offer for a comprehensive list).
Please also refer to the AIT ‘Bitesize’ training offer which will help to support you in creating inclusive environments for all students either with or without a formal diagnosis of Autism.
Outline of Charges 2024-2025
Hourly Support Costs
Specialist Teacher / Communication Support Worker - £75.00 per hour
Specialist / Bespoke Awareness Training - £100 per hour
STSS Service Level Agreement – Support Packages
We are offering the opportunity for Settings to purchase packages of support devised to create the ‘best value’ for access to the Autism Inclusion Team within your setting. The 25-hour package is ideal for settings who have a large number of students who have a diagnosis of Autism. This would prove to be the most cost-effective access to Specialist Support. These packages are subject to availability and limited to one package per setting, per academic year in the first instance.
| Number of Pupil Support Hour Package for Academic year 2024-2025 | Total per Annum |
|---|
| 25 hours @ £60 / hour |
£1,500 |
|---|
| 15 hours @ £65 / hour |
£975 |
|---|
| 10 hours @ £70 / hour |
£700 |
|---|
Please note, follow up written reports are also chargeable by the hour
Autism Inclusion Team Booking Form
Should your setting wish to purchase an annual STSS AIT support package (academic year) please contact The Specialist Teaching Support Service office direct where we would be happy to discuss an agreement with you further.
Click here for Support Package Booking Form
Engagement with SENDIASS.
Heather Watson and Kim Edge came and presented at the MPFT/CHC SEND Champions meeting.
Heather and Kim discussed the SENDIASS service and opportunities to work in partnership with MPFT and CHC Children’s services.
The multiagency Neurodevelopmental Pathway project covering services in the south of Staffordshire continues.
One of the workstreams is considering support and provision for Children and Young people at the pre - assessment /diagnostic stage. As part of this work a parent carer survey has been developed to be circulated widely to capture the views of parents and carers in relation to prediagnostic provision and support.
The Children and Young People’s Autism Service has delivered ‘Amazing Autism’ training for MPFT staff which has been very well received.Further training will be available in October 2024.
The Children’s Occupational Therapy Service have developed a new resource to support functional skills :
Putting On Socks
all videos can be found on the website: 'How to' videos Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (mpft.nhs.uk)
5. Speech and Language Therapy has a menu of training that is available.
Further information can be found at www.stokespeaks.org/training - detailing the service training offer covering Staffordshire and Stoke.
The Virtual School team was very excited to read the Attachment Research Community’s (ARC) document ‘Relational Approach to Education: Meeting the needs of our children and young people’ with its focus on Relational based approaches across education, supported by a Trauma Informed & Attachment Aware workforce.
This research and its emphasis on terminology that recognises Adverse Childhood Experiences, Attachment Aware, Emotion Coaching, Nurture, Resilience, Restorative Practice and Trauma Informed, supports our continued vision to work collaboratively with all Staffordshire schools to support our care experienced children.
To help you in developing a whole-school Relational approach to supporting children and young people in your schools and settings, the Virtual School has a range of training opportunities available for Primary and Secondary colleagues along with specific Early Years training.
Course Titles:
- Emotion Coaching
- Attachment and Trauma (L1 & L2 and whole school)
- Relational network events
- Relational Practice
- Restorative Conferencing
- RADY
- Social Emotional Development (EY)
- Impact of early experience on sensory development (EY)
- PACE (EY)
- Transition, Endings and Loss (EY)
- Reflective Practice
Downloadable resources
“A new updated version of the EAPDR One Form is going live on 25 April, and will be uploaded to the EAPDR web pages for you to use from this day.
We have been taking feedback on the form and have been working hard to continually review and update the form based on such feedback, your input is important and we will continue to tweak if necessary and helpful.
Please pay particular attention to the updated SEND Commissioning sections of the One Form, which are within the EAPDR process (orange) section, and are entitled Proposed Provision Requested.
Another update is the use of bookmarks to help you quickly get to any colour coded sections of the form! When in the form, press Ctrl + G to bring up the “Go To” pop up box, select “Bookmark” from the list on the left hand side, and then in the “Bookmark Name” drop down list select the colour of your choice. Finally, press “Go To” and then close the pop up box, and you will be on the colour you have chosen.”