Pupil Access and Support Services

Psychological Service

Room 28

County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich, NR1 2DL

Minicom: (01603) 223833

Mr James Thatcher

PA&CS/NPS/JT/HLS 01603 222574

S:\PA&SS\Secretarial\Correspondence\Other-2003\C\Consultation JT-DoE Let.doc

January 10th 2003 01603 222900

james.thatcher.edu@norfolk.gov.uk

To All Norfolk Schools

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to keep you up to date with developments and to thank you for the work you have undertaken with our Psychological Service to make a concerted response to the recommendations of the revised SEN Code of Practice; in particular, supporting the development of a consultation model which is responsive to assessing the pupil’s needs within the context of their learning environment.

You will remember that as part of our response to the revised Code, we are piloting a consultation approach to supporting children and schools. This has three phases, discussion and planning at termly SST planning meetings; the opportunity for schools to seek consultation visits about both whole school issues and individual children; and, subsequently, the opportunity to request direct intervention with children. We envisage that this approach will maximise the effectiveness of our professional support for schools.

On the basis of feedback received from schools and School Support Teams, it appears that most schools welcome this approach. In the light of last term's experience, the ‘Request for Consultation’ proformas have been slightly modified to ensure paperwork is kept to a minimum while retaining essential information. These will be available through the School Support Team at your first planning meeting of the new year.

Further evaluative comments will be gathered from a range of sources, including

NPS Quality Visits to schools, School Support Team Focus meetings, and outcomes of interventions, including school, pupil, and parent opinions, with a view to finalising the consultation approach from September 2003.

If you have any comments as the pilot proceeds, please do not hesitate to speak to

your SST.

Yours sincerely

Bryan Slater

Director of Education