SENDIASS Spotlight - March 25

Sections

1. SENDIASS update
2. Caselaw update
3. Phase transfer with an EHCP
4. Staff spotlight
5. Norfolk SEND Youth Forum
6. Engagement and Advice update
7. Book recommendations
8. Have your say with wraparound care
9. Things to do for children and young people with SEND online calendar
10. Parent/carer Cafe
11. Complex Transition Information Event

SENDIASS update

Caselaw update

High Courts and Upper Tier Tribunals can make rulings on parts of the law that need clarifying (the grey areas), those rulings are called ‘Case Law’.

Following a Case Law ruling all other Courts and Tribunals then have to follow this and it takes precedent over what the law says.
 
R (L, M, and P), v Devon County Council [2022]
 
The above ruling has been classed as a ‘landmark case’ to come through the High Court, it finally provides clarity in relation to Annual Review deadlines when amending an EHCP.

Before the ruling, the law stated that following an Annual Review meeting the Local Authority (LA) must send a decision letter within four weeks to the parent/carer or young person on what they propose to do; maintain, amend, or cease the EHCP. If the LA chose to amend the EHCP they would then have to issue an amended draft ‘as soon as is practicable’ but as there was no defined time frame this phrase would be open to interpretation and could result in lengthy delays.

The High Court in this ruling found that there is a timeframe in which LA’s must complete the Annual Review. Following the ruling, if the LA decide to amend the EHCP following the Annual Review meeting they must send the decision letter and the draft EHCP to the parent/carer or young person within four weeks of the meeting. Parent/carers and young people will then have 15 days to provide comments on the draft EHCP.

The ruling made clear that LA’s must send the parent or young person the final amended EHCP within a maximum of 12 weeks of the annual review meeting.

Phase transfer with an EHCP

The phase transfer deadline for those children and young people with an EHCP that are moving from:
(a) early years education to school

(b) infant school to junior school
(c) primary school to middle school
(d) primary school to secondary school
(e) middle school to secondary school
 
has now passed, if your child falls into one of the above categories and you have not received the information that contains the place of learning your child will be transitioning into for September 2025, please either contact your EHCP co-ordinator or call the dedicated EHCP phone line on 01603 679183.

For those young people that are moving from:

(f) secondary school to a post-16 institution.
 
The deadline for phase transfer is the 31st March, this deadline is fast approaching so please keep an eye on emails/letters to see what has been named for post 16+ phase transfer.

If you are unhappy with the place of learning named in the phase transfer information you have a right to appeal this, you only have two months in which to start this process. We have a vast amount of information to help you do this on our website:
Appealing to the SEND Tribunal | Norfolk SENDIASS

Alternatively, you can book an appointment to discuss this with us on our helpline or visit us at one of the drop ins across Norfolk.

Staff spotlight

Hi, my name is Kelly Drew, and I’ve worked at Norfolk SENDIASS for 10 years.  In my role as Business Communication Co-ordinator I am responsible for our communications software, internal processing systems, our online resources and website and deal with incoming calls from parent/carers and young people.  A large part of my role is collecting and managing our data to ensure that we continue to evidence the impact of our information, advice and support.  Before working at SENDIASS I have worked in other administration roles within the Local Authority, including Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service. I am proud to be a part of this team that makes a difference to so many parent/carers and young people across Norfolk.

Norfolk SEND Youth Forum

In this month’s online meeting, we were delighted to welcome back researchers from the University of Hertfordshire, who are currently researching food in schools, and seeking the lived experiences, views and feedback from children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Our members were able to identify that   for some young people, they will seek out “safe foods,” and that the support offered and the environment in which they eat are important. Here are two direct quotes from our members, from the discussion:

• But don’t force us to eat if we can’t, we will eat when we feel comfortable.
• If the food hall is too busy and they don't feel like waiting that long, or they don't like it being too busy and being watched while eating. Noise can also be a problem too. Solutions could be to make it easier for students to get food and eat it in a comfortable situation.

The researchers also provided feedback:

“Thank you so much for such a fantastic meeting with the Norfolk SEND Youth Forum last night. It was excellent and the group were so honest and thoughtful in their answers which we really appreciated. “

For further insight please view the minutes to our meetings, which you can access from the Norfolk SENDIASS website.
Other Youth Forum activities this month include attending the Annual Family Voice conference at the John Innes Centre on the 22^{nd of} March. At the end of the month we will be meeting up in person, for a cooking workshop, where we will then sit down together and eat , and we will all be very mindful to ensure our young people can have choice and control in what they eat, when they eat and where they eat! 
 
Bridget Robinson
Engagement & Advice Worker

Engagement and Advice update

Book recommendations

See, touch, feel colours: A first sensory book to share with your baby This book has embossed images and touchable textures. Tactile books engage multiple senses, aiding sensory skill development and enhancing the overall learning experience.

Through the eyes of us – Jon Roberts Kya and Martha are both on the autistic spectrum and together have wonderfully unique traits. This book offers insights into autism and celebrates childhood friendship.

Can you see me? – Libby Scott (Available as an E-Book) Eleven-year-old Libby Scott's diary entries, based on her own autism experiences, inspire this book. Tally, the main character, is autistic and struggles with everyday life. This book offers an authentic and inspirational look at autism, helping readers understand what it's like to be autistic.

The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens – Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman This book explores the experiences of young people on the autism spectrum, showcasing their incredible abilities. Filled with insights on embracing autism, it explores the unique strengths of seeing the world differently and celebrates being yourself. It also provides practical advice for managing challenging situations.

Have your say with wraparound care

Are you looking for a breakfast and/or after school club place with the right support for your child?  

If you have a child aged between four and 11 and you’re looking for termtime childcare to accommodate your working hours, we want to hear from you.  

Norfolk County Council’s wraparound projectis working with schools, early years and childminders to create new breakfast and after school clubs or extend existing ones.  

They are keen to hear from families with children with SEND to understand if the current offer in your area meets your child or children’s needs.   

You can help by completing this short anonymous survey https://forms.office.com/e/w5ipe7KvXv.

Things to do for children and young people with SEND online calendar

Parent/carer Cafe

Complex Transition Information Event