Management Information Sheet

Post 16 transport applications and TITAN Summer buddy programme – schools only

We would like to advise schools of changes to arrangements for submitting applications for Post 16 taxi transport and associated TITAN Summer buddy scheme applications, a function carried out in previous years by Children’s Services Guidance Advisers.

For children and young people with Statements or Education Health Care Plans, including those currently in assessment where a decision has been reached to issue an EHCP, EHCP Coordinators will assume this responsibility. For children and young people without Statements or EHCPs, including those currently in assessment where no decision has yet been reached over whether to issue an EHCP, we are asking schools to complete this function as part of their role in supporting transition for young people under SEN support.

The Post 16 transport and TITAN applications are comprised within one form which will be published soon on the TITAN section of the Norfolk schools website here. Deadlines for applications is 1st May 2015 to enable the TITAN team to plan their programme for the summer holidays. We would ask SENCOs to contact their link EHCP Coordinator concerning children with Statements/EHCPs that they feel will require additional support with transport on leaving compulsory education as soon as possible.

Evidence for requests for EHC needs assessment referrals – school/Early Years settings and Post 16 provider referrals

We have all been familiarising ourselves with the new arrangements for referrals for Statutory EHC needs assessments and we would wish to express our thanks and gratitude to SENCOs for their patience as we continue to develop and refine our referral processes. With the changes, we are mindful that schools and SENCOs may be unsure what information we need in addition to the referral form.

In a small number of cases, following a decision being made not to undertake an EHC needs assessment based on the information that has been provided, educational settings have subsequently submitted far more rigorous evidence once a parental tribunal appeal has been lodged. This has resulted in original decisions needing to be overturned unnecessarily were such information provided to us with the initial referral.

We would therefore draw attention of all SENCOs to Section 9.14 of the SEN Code of Practice 2014 which describes the evidence the Local Authority needs to consider when taking decisions concerning EHC needs assessment requests. In addition, we would also ask educational settings to refer to ‘Norfolk’s Special Educational Needs and Disability Criteria for Education, Health and Care Needs assessments’ which provides additional information on the decision making process and the evidence we require as part of our considerations. We would therefore ask that educational settings provide supporting, supplementary information alongside the referral form as part of the evidence we consider. This could include Individual Education Plans, Pastoral or Behaviour Support Plans, Risk Assessments, Class or subject teacher reports attainment and progress records. Where schools have sought professional advice or intervention, evidence of how that advice or intervention has been applied and its impact is also very beneficial. If schools are unsure of any evidence needed, please contact your EHCP Coordinator who will be able to provide advice.

Requests for existing advice to educational settings – schools, Early Years and Post 16 settings

Parents/carers and young people over age 16 are able to request an EHC needs assessment in the new legislation. Where this occurs, our local SEN teams will make a request to educational settings to provide existing information they possess concerning that child to support the EHC needs assessment decision making process. Currently, we send schools a blank version of the professional’s referral form. We would ask schools to complete this and also to submit supporting information to us as described in point 2 above. Again, this information is vital to enable us to make effective decisions based on sound evidence.

If settings have any queries about any information provided, please contact your local teams.