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SEN support plans

This information aims to provide clarity of expectations around best practice for mainstream Norfolk education settings in creating robust, effective SEN support plans (SSPs) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

The guidance document and associated resources have been developed through engagement and collaborative work with mainstream Norfolk primary and secondary settings, including the development of case study examples to share current practice.

The guidance document (PDF) [491KB] is designed for senior leaders and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENDCos) and includes information about why written SEN support plans are important, what to include and planning processes.

In addition, a range of supporting resources have been collated to supplement this guidance and are available below.

Case studies

These case studies have been developed by settings who are on a journey towards best practice, and have shared their processes, thinking and development of SEN support plans. In addition, each setting has shared their current template(s). The settings are all at different stages in the development or review of their SSPs and this is reflected in their case studies.

Primary case studies and supporting SSP examples:

Secondary case studies and supporting SSP examples:

Editable blank (optional) templates for primary and secondary

There are three primary templates and two secondary templates. These are optional and in an editable format as a Word document for settings to download and use and/or adapt.

For settings that use 'Provision Map' by Edukey, versions of these templates can be found in the main template library, so any school that uses the software and would like to import that template can do so. Each template begins with the word 'Norfolk'.

Exemplar SEN support plans with INDES

There are two primary exemplars and four secondary exemplars. These show the SEN support plans for a child or young person (CYP) alongside the Identification of needs descriptors in educational settings (INDES) which have been highlighted to show how the two documents align.

INDES are a framework of standardised terms, co-produced and facilitated by the Inclusion and SEND team, breaking down the broad areas of SEND into seven specific sections which describe need. Find out more about INDES here.

There are examples for both CYP with an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) and SEN support to demonstrate how different formats can be used to capture differing levels of need.

SEN support plan checklist to support reflection and action planning

Settings can use this optional checklist (PDF) [101KB] to support reflection on their current processes and plans and to identify what is working well and any areas for development. This can be printed off or used digitally.

Working with Norfolk settings

Thank you to all the settings who have engaged and supported this work, particularly:

  • Colby Primary School
  • The Heart Trust
  • Hingham Primary School
  • Woodlands Primary Academy
  • Taverham High School
  • Framingham Earl High School

We will continue to work with settings to develop a broader range of case studies and exemplars which reflect the diversity of approaches across Norfolk settings.