Meet the SEND Team

The SEN Assessment and Review Team

29 November 2023

Q: What is the time scale for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) teams to become involved with a child with additional needs, in a mainstream school? Also, what is the criteria?

A: There is no formal time scale.  All schools have a link advisor working with their SENCo.  The SENCo can discuss with the advisor any concerns and plan next steps depending on what is understood about the child’s needs and the level of support they would need.  The SEND Assessment and Review Team would only become involved if a request for an EHC (Education, Health and Care) needs assessment is received.

Q: I know there’s a lot of community support -playgroups, parent groups etc. for under 5s with SEN (Special Educational Needs). What is there available for over 5s?

A: There are two areas on the Blackpool SEND Local Offer where events and social activities are published. These are all specific for children and young people with SEND. The relaunch of the Blackpool Family Hubs and the work of the Blackpool Better Start Partnership with under 5s has seen excellent quality support for children with or without SEND who are under 5. We know community support is important to children, young people and the families of those with SEND.  We outline this importance in The SEND Strategy area 3: A range of leisure and social activities that develop children and young people’s interests and broaden opportunities to socialise and develop friendships, incorporating respite placements. 

On the Blackpool SEND Local Offer Blackpool Local Offer, the Latest Events in SEND is a calendar of events for the next 3 months, there are ad hoc events published from lots of other SEND partners such as Aiming Higher, Blackpool Parent Carer Forum, Blackpool Football Club and many more. Latest events in SEND (blackpool.gov.uk).

Within the Young People and Adult’s area, is a button called ‘Find Social Activities for Me’ and a list of activities that happen regularly and are for children and young people with SEND from primary age up to 16 – 25.

Find social activities for me - information for young people with SEND (blackpool.gov.uk).

Q: I’m worried about the transition from Blenheim house to the hospital when my child turns 5 does everything get transferred smoothly to another consultant or do we have to start again?

A: If you have any specifics about this question, please email send@blackpool.gov.uk  FAO Charlotte Baron as this service sits outside the council offer.  This is not our service so we wouldn’t like to answer for them but usually around the age of 5, Blenheim House will transfer your child to another paediatrician. This should be a smooth process so you don’t have to start again but please email further questions on this and we will take to the Designated Clinical Officer.

Q: Are existing SEN staff going to be trained further in identifying key and subtle characteristics of neurological conditions such as autism, as currently, many are not aware of certain behaviours such as masking, stimming etc.?

A: Blackpool Council have bought into a 3 – year license with the Autism Education Trust to deliver free autism training to schools. We have had a good take up so far from schools. The SENCO can book this training through the SEND Support Team.

Q: Will the current SEN provisions be updated to ensure children who are not diagnosed or awaiting diagnosis are supported in ways that are conducive to their learning needs?

A: We prioritise parents getting the support they need, as soon as possible, and supporting a child’s needs. The SEND Support Team offer Cygnet training to parents if their child is on the NDP (Neuro Developmental Pathway), we do not wait for the diagnosis. There is also a new feature on the Local Offer in the parent’s area called ‘Courses for Parents’ which lists the free courses parents can access to support them to help their child.

Q: Will SEN staff/provisions be updated to ensure students receive an EHCP or fast track referral for an EHCP to ensure children's individual learning needs are supported? 

A: Unfortunately, the statutory process has statutory time frames, meaning there is no fast track for referral. We feel this question needs more information so if you could please email send@blackpool.gov.uk FAO Emma Tonge, Emma will respond in more detail.

Q: Will the current SEN model be revised to ensure that both school and parents/guardians are supported with the care of the children i.e. parents reporting behaviours to school, to be considered when completing referrals or paperwork for neuro pathway?

A: We recognise information comes from both parents and professionals.  We know that children often present differently in different settings, and it is important to accept and understand this.  Presenting this information in a referral can be challenging but it is essential that we underpin any observations with ‘why’.  For example; A child may follow the rules, appear compliant and raise no concerns in one setting but still appears dysregulated in another, both can be true, and it does not mean that one setting is better than the other.  What is helpful in a referral is to describe what support the child needs and how the support is helpful.

The SENDIASS service can support if parents feel they need extra help.