Management Information Sheet
Inclusion and SEND Support and Advice for Children, Young People, Schools and Academies
Inclusion Support for Schools
School leaders and school staff have continued to successfully support children, young people and their families throughout the pandemic. Whilst most pupils have transitioned and settled back into school life well, we know that the operational restrictions required to make schools safer places for pupils and adults have created challenges for the inclusion of pupils who have not found this transition easy, and that some pupils continue to find settling back into school difficult.
This MI Sheet is to remind school staff of the services and teams which remain focused on supporting the inclusion of children and young people, particularly where needs are escalating. It is not an exhaustive list of services and resources, and it will be uploaded to the Norfolk Schools website for future reference.
Inclusion and SEND Support for Children and Young People
Inclusion Team, Inclusion Helpline
Support and advice can be accessed through the Inclusion Helpline on 01603 307736 - 9.00am-4.30pm (Mon-Thurs) and 12.30-4.30pm (Fri) - or by emailing inclusionteam@norfolk.gov.uk. Support and advice is fully subsidised and face to face visits are taking place when necessary. Additional support has been orientated around this team to maintain a quick response.
Norfolk STEPs Team
The Norfolk STEPs team provides training and guidance on specialist risk management and strategies to support escalating behaviours for schools and settings. Additional resource is also being orientated around the STEPs team. Please email diane.leamon@educatorsolutions.org.uk for more information.
Educational Psychology Specialist Support (EPSS)
Support includes:
- Specialist SEMH support and practitioners
- The ASD team who provide support for CYP with communication and interaction needs
- Specialist teachers who provide support around wider SEND needs
- Critical Incident Team provides support to schools and academies in the event of an incident which involves the experience of significant personal distress to a level which potentially overwhelms normal responses, procedures and coping strategies, and which is likely to have emotional and organisational consequences
Some aspects of the above is part of the traded offer - click here for details of the wider EPSS offer.
Virtual School Looked After and Previously Looked After Children
Provides support, advice and training for CYP who are looked after and previously looked after - click here for details.
Virtual School Sensory Support (VSSS)
The VSSS offers comprehensive and flexible support to children and young people with a sensory loss (deaf and / or vision impaired) and their families - click here for VSSS details. The team is supporting pupils in settings according to need.
Multi-Agency Support Panels (MASP)
Multi-Agency Support Panels support education providers' response to children and families to prevent the escalation of need. This is aimed at families not subject to an existing support plan (Early Help, Child in Need, Child Protection etc). MASP takes place weekly and is supported by a wide range of professionals who will help shape a multi-agency response - click here for MASP details.
Portage Service
Portage is a fully subsidised home-based visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional needs and their families - click here for Portage Service details.English as an additional language Team (EAL)
The EAL team provide training, guidance and advice for CYP who speak English as an additional language. Some aspects of service delivery are traded. The use of language line remains free.
Gypsy Roma Traveller Team (GRT)
The GRT team offer bespoke training for schools, early years settings, higher education and other providers working with GRT families and children.
Young Carers Support
Young carers are children and young people aged under 18 who help look after or support a family member or friend who is disabled, ill or misuses drugs or alcohol. The child or young person may help with practical tasks or emotional support for the disabled or ill person or others in the family or household - click here for more details for support available for young carers in Norfolk.
Norfolk LGBT+
Norfolk LGBT+ Project is a registered charity, providing support, information and advice to all age groups that is relevant to the health and wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Norfolk, including support for schools - click here for Norfolk LBGT+ details.
Attendance Team
All schools have access to the Attendance Team for pupil specific advice and consultation as a core offer. All districts are allocated an AEO but the duty line contact number is 01603 223 681 and their email address is csattendance@norfolk.gov.uk.
SRB Provision and Placements
Admissions for the SRBs are taking place across the programme - click here for details about the SRB programme.
Element 3 Funding
Applications for Element 3 funding for SEND pupils with high need can be accessed through processes in the Virtual School for SEND - click here for details.
SENDIASS (Parent Partnership)
Norfolk SENDIASS (Parent Partnership) provides free and impartial information, advice and support about special educational needs & disabilities (SEND) for children, young people, parents and carers.
Whole School Inclusion and SEND Support and Guidance
DfE Wellbeing Project Resources
Resources to support a whole school approach to improving wellbeing, including toolkits, staff CPD and curriculum resources - click here for Wellbeing in Education resources on the Norfolk Schools website.
Transition Resources and Guidance
There is guidance on the Norfolk Schools website on best practice for transitions for pupils with SEND. During the current pandemic, this advice will support the transition for all pupils needing additional support - click here for details.
There is further information on the Local Offer website, Moving on - Transition in Education.
Click here for the EPSS Anxiety Toolkit on managing (COVID specific) transitions for CYP.
SENDCo Support and Advice
SEND Advisers in the Virtual School SEND are able to offer support and advice on SEND provision and support - click here for SEND resources on the Norfolk Schools website.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support and Guidance for Children, Young People and Families
Community and Partnerships
Our Community and Partnership directorate in Children's Services provides early intervention and preventative services for children, young people and their families which promote inclusion in the community - click here for details.
The teams work in seven districts and contact details can be found below:
Just One Norfolk (JON)
Just One Norfolk is the 'one stop shop' for health advice for Norfolk families. It includes support for emotional health and wellbeing and resources for schools and families on how to successful return to school.
Additionally, there is a range of self-help resources and mental health advice and support that schools can signpost young people to.
Wider Mental Health Resources
- Mental health and wellbeing resources and strategies from Public Health England.
- COVID specific mental health and wellbeing resources from Young Minds.
- Support for parents and carers from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.
- Wellbeing ideas for Families from Place2Be.
- Parent and carer online workshops on supporting children's mental health and wellbeing from CAMHs (Scotland).
- Children, young people and families Support and Self Help Guide from Norfolk and Waveney CAMHs.
- Kooth - free online counselling and peer support for 11-25 year old.
- ChatHealth - A secure text messaging service for parents, carers, and young people to confidentially ask for help about a range of issues and find out how to access local services. Text 07480 635060.
Wellbeing Support for Headteachers and School Staff
Education Duty Out of Hours Line - 01603 222680
This service is available for headteachers to use for emergency queries outside of school hours. The line is open until 10pm Monday to Friday and from 9am until 10pm on the weekends and is answered by the Senior Management Team within Learning and Inclusion.
Educate Norfolk
Peer support groups meet every other week for those that want to join. Details about Educate Norfolk can be found on their website.
Waving the Flag
Local Authority HT online meetings with representatives of the LA - please contact Penny Sheppard (head@queenshill.norfolk.sch.uk) or Sam Fletcher (samantha.fletcher@norfolk.gov.uk) for more information.
Education Support
Free confidential phone line for education staff, available 24/7 pm. Telephone 08000 562561.