SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Advisory Team

We can help to make sure you are able to meet your statutory duties and legal responsibilities for children and young people with SEND (this relates to the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 2015 and the Equality Act 2010). 

Our remit is to work with staff to consider whole school inclusive practice and provision to meet the individual needs of children and young people with SEND. Our team includes two SEND Advisory Officers and a SEND Advisory manager. Our qualified and experienced team offer operational and strategic support to the SENCO, Senior Leaders, SEND governors and whole school staff on leadership and management of SEND in your setting. This contributes to whole school improvement and therefore children and young people with SEND are able to achieve the best possible outcomes. 

SENCO network meetings

We run successful termly SENCO network meetings; all Durham SENCOs (or head teachers) can access these at no cost. These offer valuable networking opportunities with information on local, regional and national updates, as well as high quality guest speakers. If you would like further information please contact us.

Central training for SENCOs

Central bespoke training is available which covers a wide range of topics that have been developed through working closely with education providers to meet their individual needs.

Currently, training covers:

• new SENCO role & responsibilities
• co-ordination of SEND provision for SENCOs and whole school staff
• SENCO as strategic leader
• completing costed provision maps
• understanding the process for top up funding
• understanding the process of applying for a statutory assessment
• conducting person centred reviews

All of these courses are individually costed - for further information and details of how to book a place, please refer to the SEND and Inclusion course directory.

Support for schools

We offer a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for schools and settings, or bespoke support can be costed separately (see the 'Costs' section below).

The support we offer includes high quality support for SENCOs/senior leaders in one or more of the following areas:

• Whole school SEND systems and procedures.
• SEN data analysis.
• Quality assurance of EHC/SEN support plans and outcomes.
• Quality first teaching for pupils with SEN.
• SEN interventions.
• SEN book/work scrutiny.
• Quality assurance audit of SEN Information report and accessibility plan.
• Half day SEND 'health check'.
• SEND action planning.
• Comprehensive SEND reviews.
• Bespoke support for new SENCOs to the county.
• High quality SEND support for newly and recently qualified teachers.
• High quality support for the SEND governor.
• Bespoke whole school SEND support/training tailored to the requirements of the setting.

Bespoke SEND review

The details of a SEND review would be negotiated by or with the setting, but in general this would comprise of a full day visit to school by at least two advisory staff. A review could include interviews with key staff, pupils and parents; an examination of SEN data and SEN related paperwork. It could also include a learning walk and/or observation of SEN interventions or book scrutiny. A written report detailing findings, including strengths and areas for development would be provided to school.

Costs

SEND advisory SLA: Four or eight hours of support £380-£700

Alternatively the following services are available separately for County Durham schools:  

• Bespoke one to one hourly consultation £100
• Half day SEND 'health check' (including written report) £410
• Quality assurance audit of SEN information report and accessibility plan £180
• Whole school twilight training (up to two hours) £195
• Bespoke SEND review £990

Other packages can be organised for individual schools, Trusts, COLs or non-Durham schools.

Education Durham contracts

We work closely with our colleagues in Education Durham, so if your school has a Service Level Agreement with that team, then where relevant, some hours can be used for SEND support.

To discuss your individual needs, contact the SEND Advisory team.

National Award for SEN Co-ordination (NASENCO)

We also run a highly successful NASENCO programme, alongside a national training provider. There are six face to face training sessions; continued support from one of the team's officers and valuable networking opportunities with other local SENCOs. Having this course in County Durham enables us to ensure our SENCOs are being trained to a high standard and the course is personalised to the county's own procedures.