SENDIASS Spotlight - Oct 25

Sections

1. SENDIASS update
2. Who are Norfolk SENDIASS?
3. Library drop-ins
4. The role of the Senior Advisor
5. Lack of communication with EHCP Co-ordinators
6. SEND Reforms
7. Naming a setting during the phase transfer process
8. Norfolk SEND Youth Forum update
9. Engagement and Outreach Update
10. Book recommendations
11. Question & Answer
12. Feedback

SENDIASS update

It has been a busy few months for us here at Norfolk SENDIASS, unfortunately our wait times on our Helpline rapidly increased again over the first few weeks of September. To reduce these wait times once again, from the week beginning the 3^rd November we have added an additional 25 helpline calls a week bringing us to around 45 every week. We are hoping that this will have a positive impact and reduce those wait times again.
 
From this week we will be slightly changing how we offer case work support, this is to try and reduce the wait list we currently have and stop it from increasing in the future. Families who come to us and need more support than our Helpline can offer may be offered one-off support to help move them forward, if an Advisor feels that the family need more intense support due to their own needs then they will put them forward for longer term casework support. Not every family that comes to the service will be offered or provided with one-off support and not every family that receives one-off support will be given longer term casework support, but we are hoping that this will help us to become a more responsive service.
 
Earlier this month we said goodbye to Hayleigh one of our SENDIAS Advisors, we wish her the best with her move and all future endeavours! This does mean we will be recruiting for two SENDIAS Advisor roles, keep an eye on our website over the coming weeks for more information on how to apply!

Who are Norfolk SENDIASS?

SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service. We are legally required to be free, impartial, and confidential as per our Statutory Duties.

We provide support to children and young people (up to age 25) with a special educational need or disability (SEND), and their parents and carers.

We help families understand the law around SEND and navigate the education and health and social care systems, when it impacts on education.

What does a SENDIASS Do:

• Offers information and advice: They provide information on the law and options available for a child's or young person's education, and health, and care when it impacts on education.
• Provides support: They help families and young people voice concerns, make decisions, and play a key role in the SEND process.
• Helps with procedures: They can support with specific issues such as annual reviews, exclusions, complaints, and appeals.
• Connects families with services: They can direct people to appropriate resources, services and help

Library drop-ins

The role of the Senior Advisor

As the Senior Advisor at Norfolk SENDIASS no two days are the same! The role includes line management duties, attending strategic meetings when the service manager in unable to do so and providing families with casework support. Due to changes in the way our service works my diary now also includes some Helpline calls every week, so you may speak with me if you have an appointment.

Lack of communication with EHCP Co-ordinators

A common thing we are hearing on the Helpline at the moment is that sometimes parents, carers and young people can struggle to contact their EHCP coordinator. The EHCP team is a large team and there is bound to be members of staff on annual leave and sometimes not at work due to sickness.
Our advice, if a parent, carer or young person is having difficulties contacting their EHCP coordinator, is to call the dedicated phone line on 01603 679183. The phone line will be able to update parents, carer and young people if their coordinator is unavailable and who to go to if this is the case.

SEND Reforms

As some of you may have seen already, it was announced on the 22^nd October that the School’s White Paper which included plans for SEND reform has now been delayed.

It was due to come out this term but will now come out ‘early next year’, we understand how frustrating this is for families and professionals, and we share those feelings as well, as we were hoping to get clarity around potential changes.  
If you would like to read Bridget Phillipson’s full letter to the Education Select Committee, please follow this link:

SEND reform: Education Secretary writes to the Education Select Committee - GOV.UK

Naming a setting during the phase transfer process

When a child or young person has an EHC plan and is due to move to a new phase of education (such as from primary to secondary education), their EHC plan must be reviewed and amended well before they move to their new education phase.

IPSEA state that your LA (Norfolk County Council) must start the review process within 12 months of your child or young person moving to a new education phase, no earlier and no later.

This means that discussions about transfer need to begin early in the autumn term of the year before transfer (such as year 6 or 11) to allow plenty of time for the review and amendment process to happen. 

The process the LA must follow is the same as the annual review process. Find out more in our EHCP Annual Review booklet.

You have a right to request any of the following types of nursery, school or college is named in the EHC plan:

• a maintained school or nursery (mainstream or special)
• an Academy (mainstream or special)
• an institution in the Further Education sector
• a non-maintained special school
• a section 41 school.

These are listed in section 38(3) of the Children and Families Act (CFA) 2014.
 
This means there is no law, legislation or guidance that states that the parent, carer or young person must name a mainstream setting when choosing which setting the name during phase transfer.

Norfolk SEND Youth Forum update

In our October meeting, we heard from two members about their experience of attending the Flourish Awards ceremony, where the group were finalists in the “Understood Award”.  They had a great time, and they were wonderful ambassadors for the group.

 We also heard from four young people who made up a recent young people’s panel, when we were recruiting for a new Engagement & Advice Worker.  These young people wrote their own questions to ask the candidates, based on issues which matter to them.  They told us that they liked all the candidates and were in agreement with the final decision. 

We were joined by Claire Jones, NCC, who told us all about the SEND Local Offer, and a new project to invite young people to work with her to develop and improve the information made available to young people.  To have a look at this please click on the link https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/40393/SEND-Local-Offer

If you are a young person who would like to find out more about how to join, or you are a professional seeking to consult with our “Experts by experience” please get in touch!!

Bridget Robinson, Engagement and Advice worker

Engagement and Outreach Update

Book recommendations

Question & Answer

Feedback