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SEND SUPPORT

Guidance and Signposting for Professionals

This page provides a guide to signposting SEND support available across Buckinghamshire. It is intended for professionals working across education, Early Years, Health and Social Care who support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

1. What should have already taken place before an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) application?

  • Conversations with family or the young person and wider professionals including the child or young person’s teacher, key person or SENCO regarding concerns
  • A SEN Support Plan has been put in place, following the Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR) cycle.
  • The SEN Support plan has been regularly reviewed with families or young person and professionals.
  • If relevant to the child’s needs, advice should be sought from the Children and Young People’s Integrated Therapy service through their advice lines or Therapy Link text messaging service.
  • Advice should also be sought from relevant external professionals – specialist/inclusion teachers, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) etc. Useful links: SEN Support Toolkit SEN Support and EHCPs
  • SEN Support is the first level of statutory SEND support and should be implemented without delay.
  • Support should be tailored, outcomes-focused and reviewed regularly.
  • Where SEN Support is not meeting need, an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment may be the appropriate next step.
  • Evidence from graduated SEN Support remains essential throughout the EHCNA process.

2. Early Years SEND Support

The Early Years Service offers a wide range of support for settings and families, for example:

  • SEND consultations, advice and training are available for Early Years practitioners.
  • There is a specific Autism offer available for families of CYP with or without diagnosis – Early Years Autism
  • The Portage Service supports some children at home who have a significant delay in two or more areas of development
  • If you work in an Early Years setting, please explore support from the Early Years Service if you have not yet done so, further details below: Useful links:
  • The Early Years Service has a dedicated website which details all the avenues of support they cover for children with SEND and their families. Early Years Service
  • The first step for support should be through the EY SEND Consultation on the specific EY SEND pages Early Years SEND
  • Further information around the training courses offered via the Early Years Service can be found here Early Years SEND CPD and Early Years Autism | Early Years
  • Further information around the Portage Service can be found here Portage Service
  • Parents can find advice from the Health Visiting Service including resources for starting school

3. Specialist Teachers (ST)

Inclusion Team

The Inclusion Team includes Inclusion Specialist Teachers, Sensory Specialist Teachers and Inclusion Practitioners, who work across the county to support children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities.

Specialist Teachers

The Specialist Teachers work collaboratively with:

  • SENDCos
  • Class teachers
  • Teaching assistants and Learning Support Assistants
  • Key workers
  • Children and young people
  • Parents and carers
  • Health, social care and other professional partners

Specialist Teacher can support through:

  • Consultation, specialist advice and collaborative problem-solving.
  • Observation, learning walks and specialist assessment.
  • Identification of needs, strengths and barriers to learning.
  • Coaching, modelling and staff training.
  • Support with SEND Support, EHCP provision and the Graduated Approach.
  • Advice on reasonable adjustments, access to learning and environmental adaptations.
  • Recommendations regarding specialist equipment, resources and access arrangements.
  • Support for independence, participation and successful transitions.
  • Advice to support effective planning, implementation and review of provision and outcomes.
  • Joint working with families and partner agencies.
  • Strategic support to strengthen whole-school inclusion and SEND provision

Specialist Teachers Support Requests

Inclusion Specialist Teachers

Once a child or young person has an identified special educational need and is receiving SEN Support, schools can request involvement from their linked Inclusion Specialist Teacher. A child or young person does not need an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to access this support, as the service prioritises early identification, intervention and inclusive practice.

Inclusion Specialist Teachers support pupils with a wide range of SEND, including autism, ADHD, speech, language and communication needs, cognition and learning needs, physical disabilities, Down syndrome, genetic conditions, and other learning differences.

Every Buckinghamshire mainstream school has a linked Inclusion Specialist Teacher who can provide advice, training and practical support to strengthen inclusive practice and SEND provision.

Sensory Specialist Teachers

The Sensory Specialist Teacher teams provide specialist advice, assessment and support for children and young people with Vision Impairment (VI), Hearing Impairment (HI) and Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI). Support can begin from birth and is available regardless of whether a child or young person has an EHCP.

Sensory Specialist Teachers work collaboratively with families, early years settings, schools and other professionals to support sensory development, communication, access to learning, participation and independence. Through specialist assessment, advice and capacity-building, they help ensure that children and young people can access their education, achieve positive outcomes and participate fully in school and everyday life.

Support can be requested here: Specialist teacher support requests | SchoolsWeb

Team Up meetings can be requested by professionals working with children and young people where a multi-disciplinary (EPs, Inclusion Specialist Teachers, Children and Young People’s Therapy colleagues and, where appropriate, Mental Health Practitioners) discussion would support understanding and planning for complex needs. Team Up supports:

  • Early intervention and collaborative planning
  • Joint problem-solving and sharing specialist expertise
  • Coordinated multi-agency support
  • Identifying practical next steps and strategies
  • Increased confidence in supporting complex needs

Training

The Inclusion Team offers a comprehensive range of professional learning and parent engagement opportunities designed to develop inclusive practice, strengthen SEND provision, build confidence in supporting children and young people with additional needs, and improve outcomes for all, including:

  • SEND training courses
  • Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN)
  • National Autistic Society EarlyBird Plus
  • National Autistic Society Teen Life
  • Elklan
  • DLD Together
  • ADHD Inclusive Schools Award
  • Bespoke school training
  • Condition-specific advice sessions

To book central training: SEND Training – SEND Training |Booking by Bookwhen

To request bespoke training: Specialist Teacher Bespoke Training Request Form

Further details can be found below:

Inclusion Team | SchoolsWeb

The SEND Support Line provides advice, guidance and signposting for schools, professionals, parents and carers. Where further specialist input is required, a Specialist Teacher can arrange a follow-up discussion to provide more detailed support.

Support Line: 01296 382 135 - available Mon - Fri 10am to 4pm (term time only with reduced hours during school holidays) and first Tuesday of the month, 4 to 6pm.

4. Educational Psychologists Service (EPS)

The EPS works in partnership with settings through a consultation-led approach, supporting early identification, understanding and response to children and young people’s needs.

Before requesting an EHCNA, consider whether further assessment, consultation or intervention may help to better understand and meet the child's needs. Educational Psychologists can:

  • Work with schools to explore barriers to learning, identify strengths and needs, and develop practical strategies to support inclusion and progress without the need for statutory assessment
  • Work directly with children and young people, advise on the implementation and impact of current interventions
  • Support schools to develop flexible, responsive approaches to meeting needs through consultation, training and problem-solving.

Support can be accessed at any stage there is no need to wait for escalation or statutory processes.

How schools can access support

Schools can seek advice and support through:

5. Further Resources to explore for professionals

  • On the Local Offer, there is a directory bringing together all training opportunities available across the local area. Training Directory
  • A range of advice lines, training offers and webinars are available through therapies, health visiting and school nursing. These can be accessed without an EHCP NHS Services including Therapies
  • The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Single Point of Access (SPA) allows you to speak to a professional for advice or to self-refer for mental health support, whether the child or young person has a diagnosis or not. CAMHS
  • Bucks Mental Health Support Team (MHST) works with a number of education providers including primary schools, secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units. You can find more information about which schools they support and their offer on the link.
  • Thames Valley and South-Central Early Years Stronger Practice Hub – evidence-based programmes and resources with access to courses and webinar and blog library Thames Valley and South Central Early Years Stronger Practice Hub | Stronger Practice Hubs

6. Services and Resources available for families and young people

Children and young people with SEND, and their families, can access a range of services alongside the support provided by their setting. These services are available at any stage of their SEND journey, regardless of diagnosis or EHCP status:

Autism Early Support (AES)

  • Parent’s Portal by AES is an online community and resource for parents and carers, offering clear information, practical advice, and strategies to help understand autism and support children’s development and wellbeing. Parent's Portal | AES

Further Resources for Families and Young People

  • CAMHS have some great resources online to support parents/carers of young people with mental health difficulties, and young people themselves. CAMHS – Resources
  • Early Years Autism for families and Early Years settings to learn together (families of children up to 6 years can attend) Early Years Autism | Early Years
  • Bucks SENDIAS Service provides free, confidential and impartial advice for families. They help families understand a child rights and prepare them for school meetings. Visit Bucks SENDIAS Service
  • Buckinghamshire Local Offer brings together clear information about education, health, and care provision, training opportunities, and local activities, as well as guidance and advice available for children and young people with SEND and their families across Buckinghamshire. Explore Bucks Local Offer
  • Parent Carer Support Groups give parents and carers the opportunity to connect with others, share experiences, and access peer support. List of local groups available through the Local Offer. List of Parent Carer Groups
  • The Parent/Carer Forum represents the collective voice of parents and carers of children with SEND. Forums work in partnership with local services and providers to influence services, policies, and decision-making. Access the website here FACT Bucks | Parent Carer Forum or contact FACT directly: admin@factbucks.org.uk
  • The SEND Support Line offers a single point of contact for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. Calls are answered by Specialist Teachers, Education, Health and Care Co-ordinators (EHCCo), or an Educational Psychologist, providing information, advice, and signposting, including guidance on the Buckinghamshire Local Offer. Support Line: 01296 382 135 - available Mon - Fri 10am to 4pm (term time only with reduced hours during school holidays) and first Tuesday of the month, 4 to 6pm.
  • SEN Support Toolkit is designed for settings but can also help families understand SEN Support and what good practice looks like. SEN Support Toolkit
  • Families can access SEND BBC Bitesize training to further develop their knowledge and understanding of SEND. SEND BBC Bitesize
  • Autism Central is a regional (Southeast) resource for parents and carers, providing information about autism and local services, including directory, practical advice, events, and access to one-to-one appointments. Autism Central
  • Families can join the Disabled Children Register (DCR) which will allow families to sign up for a max card, which offers discounts for days out. The family will also be on the DCR mailing list keeping them up to date on events and offers that might help you. DCR and Max Card
  • The Speech and Language Parent Portal offers practical ideas, advice, information, and activities to support children’s understanding, listening, and talking in ways that fit naturally into family life. Speech and Language Parents Portal
  • NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies - for anxiety and depression is available to support mental health for anyone over 18 and registered with a Buckinghamshire GP. The support is free and an assessment can be requested directly without needing to see a GP.

Family Hub Network

  • The Buckinghamshire Family Hub Network helps families easily access support, advice, and services from pregnancy through to age 19, or up to 25 for young people with SEND. Families can visit any of the 16 local hubs for direct support, be signposted to the right services for their needs, and receive early help to prevent challenges from escalating. Family Hub Network
  • All Family Hubs across Buckinghamshire offer weekly, free, drop-in sessions for families with Early Years children (up to 6 years), no booking needed. During school holidays, siblings up to age 10 are welcome. Sessions include play-based activities and offer opportunities to speak with Early Years Workers for early support and signposting if needed.
  • Free Resources for Parents to help develop new and existing skills, offer advice and build confidence. Parenting Programmes | Family Information Service
  • Little Talkers (18 months–3 years) Supports children’s speech, language, and communication skills. Designed by Buckinghamshire Speech and Language Therapy. Parents attend with their children.
  • The Nurturing Programme (3–11 years) Helps parents manage everyday parenting challenges and reflect on family relationships. Parents attend without children.
  • Talking Teens (11–18 years) Focuses on communication, relationships, decision-making, and reducing conflict with teenagers. Parents attend without children.
  • Keeping Your Child in Mind (All ages) Supports calmer family life and explores conflict between parents or carers. Parents attend without children.
  • Helps children develop emotional awareness using the Five Ways to Wellbeing.
  • Introduces practical tools to build emotional resilience.
  • How to Cope with Stress, Anxiety and Low Mood (11–19 year olds, up to 25 with SEND)
  • Introduces creative strategies to manage wellbeing and setbacks.
  • Helps young people plan for a brighter future.
  • How to Build Confidence and Self-Esteem (11–19 year olds, up to 25 with SEND)
  • Explores ways to build confidence and self-esteem.
  • Supports managing peer pressure and setbacks.
  • Looks at how the online world can affect self-esteem.
  • Moving Up to Secondary School (Year 6)
  • Explores what to expect at secondary school.
  • Builds skills around forming friendships, dealing with peer pressure, and managing worries about the transition.
  • Provides practical tips for getting organised.

Further Support for Parents and Carers

16 Family Hub sites across Buckinghamshire – Family Centres | Family Information Service

Buckinghamshire Family Information Service – BFIS

BFIS – familyinfo@buckinghamshire.gov.uk | 01296 383293

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