SENCO Support

!00 Days to Inclusion and Associated Information and Documents:

• The VSEND Tool for Early Years can be found by clicking the highlighted text

• The VSEND Tool can be found by clicking on to the highlighted text and /or to download it from the download area on the right
• The What Matters Island for Pupil/Young Person can be seen by clicking the highlighted text
• The What Matters Island for Parents can be seen by clicking the highlighted text

This section of the Local Offer provides information relating to Stockton-on-Tees Professional and Citizen Portals.

NEW - Find out how to use the Professional Portal

Professional Portal 

The Professional Portal is a secure online gateway provided by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Capita Business Services enabling professionals to self register and then provide information to the Local Authority (in relation to SEND) about the children they work with.

The main benefits of using the Portal are:

• More efficient information gathering
• More efficient information sharing
• Better engagement of child, young person & parent/carer
• Improved monitoring and sharing of the status of an application

Who will use the Professional Portal?

Any professional involved in the EHCP Assessment process, including:

• Schools / Academies
• Early Years Settings
• Post 16 establishments
• Educational Psychologists
• Medical Professionals
• Speech & Language Professionals
• Occupational Physio Professionals
• Social Care Professionals
• Health Professionals

NEW - Find out how to use the Citizen Portal

Citizen Portal

The Citizen Portal is a secure online gateway provided by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Capita Business Services enabling parents to self-register and then provide information to the Local Authority (in relation to SEND) about your child and the child or yourself if you are aged 16-25.

The main benefits of using the Portal are:

• More efficient information gathering
• More efficient information sharing
• Better engagement of child, young person & parent/carer
• Improved monitoring and sharing of the status of an application

 Who will use the Citizen Portal?

• Parents and Carers and their children
• A young person aged 16-25 who is old enough to request their own SEN Assessment

Professionals such as schools, Education Psychologists and Health will have their own Portal to submit and view information relating to your child, this is called the Professional Portal.

User guides for both the Professional and Citizen Portal can be accessed by clicking on the associated document in the Downloads section on the right hand side of this page. Access to both Portals is via the associated links in the Related Services section on the right hand side of this page. 

Please note that when making an EHCP application it is now mandatory to upload

parental consent form with the application (refer to Section 13 in the application). This may now provide you with an opportunity to personally direct parents/carers to the SEND Citizen Portal and discuss the benefits and usage of the Citizen Portal with them. The Citizen Portal will soon become the only access point to their child's EHCP information and consequently it is vital that they can access and navigate the system. 

Special Education Needs [SEN] Categories & Primary Needs 

The following documents outline the four areas of need as represented in the Code of Practice 2014.

Provision Guidance for Early Years 0 - 5 / Audit Banding 

Please note that the guidance documents  below are for Early Years 0 - 5 only.

• Cognition and Learning
• Communication Interaction
• Sensory and or Physical
• Social Emotional Mental Health

Provision Guidance with SEN Support for Primary & Secondary  / Audit Banding  

• Cognition and Learning
• Communication Interaction
• Sensory and or Physical
• Social Emotional Mental Health

Use of Stockton Provision Guidance

It is always useful to look at Special Educational Needs as a continuum. From mild to moderate to severe and complex special educational needs will all require differing levels of intervention and support to enable a child or young person to succeed and achieve the desired outcome/s. The Stockton provision guidance documents are used to guide professionals to IDENTIFY needs, ASSESS and MEET those needs and evidence the intervention required to support  children at each stage of the Code of Practice.  It allows us to evidence where on that continuum of need an individual is by taking into account their strengths and areas of difficulty.

Advice and Protocols for Schools on the Annual Review

of a pupil with an Education Health and Care Plan January 2019

The advice document explains the annual review, interim reviews, secondary transfers, phased reviews and the review / transfer processes and procedures is available here.

The protocols that are based around the collection and methods of documentation collation. The arrangements of the meeting, the various reports, relevant form descriptors and flow charts to support the school in managing the review processes

Annual Review Form 2019

The document is currently used by Local Authority SEN Officers, School Heads and any other professional involved with the child / young person and is completed two weeks prior to the annual review scheduled date. The review form also includes information for any future plans.

The review form collects important information relevant to the individual child / young person’s education, health and care circumstances.

Annual Review process - guidance and training provided by The Council for Disabled Children:

Animation to explain the Annual Review process for parents

Annual Review factsheets and guidance 

To help parents and young people understand the process, Council for Disabled Children has produced an Annual Review Factsheet, timeline and guidance notes for experienced Independent Supporters who may be required to support a parent or young people with an Annual Review. 

What You Need to Know about SEN and Disabilities Reforms

A guide book, produced by Children Education and Social Care to support parents, carers and professionals navigate their way through the legal systems involved with SEN and Disabilities. The booklet gives clear and easy to read guidance around, the Local Offer, available services providing information advice and support, The Children and Families Act 2014, The Code of Practice, reforms, EHC assessment including timelines, person centred planning, personal budgets, disagreement resolution and the disability register.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice 0-25 Years (January 2015)  

The code of practice is enshrined in legislation and is the supporting documentation used by those working within the SEND environment. The statutory guidance is for any organisation which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities.

A Guide to the Special Consideration Process

A guide from The Joint Council for Qualifications which sets out the legally bound scope of special considerations. The guidance is for SENCO’s, Specialist Assessors and Senior Leaders within schools and colleges. This document is updated on an annual basis.

Adjustments for Candidates

A guide from The Joint Council for Qualifications which sets out the legally bound scope of special considerations. The guidance is for SENCO’s, Specialist Assessors and Senior Leaders within schools and colleges. This document is updated on an annual basis.

SEN Support Review Meeting

This document includes guidance notes for schools prior to the SEN support review meeting that is considering possible referral for EHC assessment.

The document provides an aid memoir and it also notes that the meetings should be conducted with a person centred planning approach and should include all agencies currently involved with the child / young person.

Child / Young Persons Views for a Review of an EHC Plan

The reference code for this form is EHCR CV. This form is used to capture the views of the child / young person’s when their EHC Plan is to be reviewed. This form should be returned to the relevant school.

Parental Advice for Review of an EHC Plan

The reference code for this form is EHCR PV. This form is issued to the parent to request any supporting information prior to the review of the EHC plan. This form gives the parent the opportunity to provide information about their child/YP.

Framework for the Inspection of Local Areas

The CQC and Ofsted framework for the inspection of local area’ effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Under section 20 of the Children Act 2004

The framework sets out the purpose for local area inspections and explains the roles Local Authorities, Health Partners and other agencies contributions to the process

Legislative basis for the inspection and how areas are selected.

A focus on reporting procedures and the expected conduct of the inspection team along with the expectations of the local areas are outlined throughout the framework.

Handbook for the Inspection of Local Areas

The CQC and Ofsted handbook for the inspection of local area’ effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Under section 20 of the Children Act 2004

The handbook explains in detail how local area will be inspected and how the local area can self-evaluate using the evaluation schedule details throughout the handbook.

Use the Search for option at the top of the page and type in

 One Point Referral

• Early Years One Point Checklist
• Early Years One Point Panel Dates 21 - 2022
• Primary & Secondary One Point Checklist
• One Point Panel Dates 22-2023
• SEND Support Plan
• One Point Guidance for Professionals
• Costed Provision Map

Information Report – School Local Offer for SEN

A template power point presentation that supports schools. The template can be interpreted by the school and expended to set out their school’s core offer, to support SEND.

The presentation slides can be used as a framework to help the school clearly model and define their interventions and provide evidence of what they can offer a child or young person with special education needs and or a disability. 

Exclusion Resources: provided by CDC and the Equality and Human Rights Commission can be found on their website