Access Through Technology (ATT)

The Access Through Technology team (ATT) is a small specialist team within Norfolk County Council's Children's Services. We work across Norfolk schools, providing support for individual pupils with severe and complex communication needs who may benefit from using technology to communicate and to learn.

We work closely with Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists and Sensory Support Teachers in whatever combination is appropriate for the individual child.

The children that we support have severe and complex communication difficulties and are currently involved with at least one health professional.

We receive referrals from Early Years colleagues, schools and specialist teams and are also alerted to children who may need our input via health colleagues and other support services.

If you would like to discuss a referral, please contact Helen Hards - ATT Lead Specialist Teacher:

• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 01603 223400

For more information please see the links at the top of the page.

The child or young person:

• Is between 4-19 and experiencing significant and complex communication difficulties caused by developmental, cognitive or physical disabilities or a combination of these. They are likely, but not required, to have an Education, Health & Care Plan
• Must have involvement with at least one health professional (eg occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, etc) and or evidence of an enduring medical need affecting written or verbal communication
• Has a named NHS health professional who agrees to the appropriateness of this referral

The school:

• Will be able to demonstrate that its existing technological resources have been used and are inadequate to meet the child's or young person's needs
• Has discussed and agreed the referral with parents and or carers

We receive referrals from Early Years colleagues, schools and specialist teams and are also alerted to children who may need our input via health colleagues and other support services.

Parents and carers should discuss an ATT referral with their child's school.

To refer, please complete the referral pack and submit with supporting evidence to [email protected].

If you have any queries call Helen Hards on 01603 223400 or email [email protected].

Download the ATT referral pack (Word doc, 61 KB)

Access Through Technology (ATT) works as part of a multi-disciplinary virtual "team around the child", providing the SEND and or ICT specialist teaching perspective in relation to the identification of the appropriate communication technology to meet an individual pupil's needs and working closely with the school to ensure that the ICT solution agreed will be compatible with the child's educational environment and will contribute to pupil progress. The referral procedure follows these steps:

1. The referral, together with the supporting evidence, should be emailed to [email protected]
2. The school will be notified when the referral has been received.
3. A member of the ATT Team will contact school to make arrangements for the assessment.
4. A report of the assessment will be completed and sent to the school and the funding panel. The school will share a copy of the report with parents and or carers.
5. Once provision is agreed, ATT will deliver and train relevant school staff in its use.
6. The effectiveness of the provision will be monitored by ATT through School Self-Reviews and (if required) school visits.
7. The school must undertake to complete these reviews in a timely fashion.

Referrals cannot be accepted unless the form is completed in full and accompanied by supporting evidence.

For children

• Promotion of independence in learning rather than learnt dependency
• Accelerated pupil progress with significant increases in motivation, concentration and attention
• Development of learning and communication skills which allows participation in school and with family and friends
• Reduction of risk of the development of behavioural difficulties due to frustration

For schools

• Specialist help in matching the needs of the child to the hardware and software required for them to make progress
• Expert teaching and teaching guidance in using the communication technology required
• A multi-disciplinary approach enabling specialist perspectives to be brought together simultaneously to reach negotiated, workable solutions
• A one-stop shop where referral, multi-disciplinary working, provision of hardware and software, training and ongoing support is provided
• No cost, as all aspects of ATT work, including provision of equipment, is funded and no additional contribution is required
• Support in the development of new SEND ICT skills in school staff thus providing increased staff confidence in supporting children with SEND and training them to be able to do so

For families

• Happier children who are better able to make their needs known and share their achievements
• Confidence that services are able to work together to arrive at possible solutions and then provide them without fences to be scaled between identification of need and provision
• Recognition that their contribution is vital and valued, and that they will always be included in the making of decisions
• Confidence that children will be tracked across the schools and phases in their education in relation to their SEND ICT needs