New SEND and Inclusion Support Model

Yesterday we shared details of our new SEND and Inclusion Support Model, with the aim to wrap more support around mainstream schools and academies to support inclusion. 

We detailed the new model in our Together - for Norfolk's children and young people update. In case you are not signed up, or you missed it, we're also including the detail here.

As part of our Local First Inclusion programme, we have been working with several schools on new approaches that can help us work better together to support inclusion in mainstream schools.  

This work has formed the basis of our new SEND and Inclusion Support model, which will be rolled out in phases across Norfolk. Our first zone will be Norwich North where we will be working with partners to develop a version of the model that is delivered jointly across agencies. Our second zone will be King's Lynn (Central). At each phase of the roll out, we will learn from our successes and build on any areas for further development.    

The aim is to ensure that schools and families receive the right support, which enables more children to access their local provision, alongside their friends and siblings.  We know for most children this leads to the best outcomes and the best chance of independence in their adult life.   

We plan to work across the 15 school and community zones and introduce new Zone Inclusion Partnerships (ZIPs). These will be made up of all schools in the area, with schools encouraged to collaborate, challenge and share best practice.  We hope in time that the collaboration will lead to cross setting projects and initiatives that support the outcomes for the young people within the localities.   

You will still have access to the Local and Graduated Offers to find information and advice, as well as the new SEND and Inclusion phoneline. There will also be a package of other support wrapped around schools and their local areas to support children to flourish and teams to be empowered.    

This will include a new Team Around the School (TAS) approach for each school. This team will meet regularly with schools to review and support the provision available to children. The plan is to include your school's headteacher or principal, your SEND leads and the appropriate local authority officers and, in time, wider partners that work with your school to support children with SEND or inclusion needs.     

This means we can be more joined up and you won't have to have lots of separate meetings with lots of different professionals to make sure a child in your school is getting the help they need.  

At these Team Around the School meetings, we will develop plans and strategies to support individuals, groups of children and whole settings and we'll be able to support and challenge each other to make sure children are getting the help they need and are entitled to. If we think further help is needed to unpick a situation, we may then hold what we're referring to as Way Forward Meetings (WFM), which will also include parents and carers, so that we can make a plan for the child and setting together.   

Strategic meetings will also take place with academy trusts and the largest federated schools and LA maintained schools in a zone, so that we can work together to ensure that inclusion opportunities are maximised within their settings.  In the new year we'll be starting work with the Early Years consultative group to explore how we can develop the model further with a focus on pre-school children.   

Further detail will follow in briefing sessions with school leaders in the coming weeks. We'll also be keeping the approach under close review and will provide regular updates.  

I'll provide regular updates in the Together bulletin, as well as via the eCourier, so please do sign up to our Together newsletter here.

Sara