SEND and Inclusion Support Model

The SEND and Inclusion Support Model is in the initial phase of being rolled out across Norfolk.  This document will give you an update on the Model, the next steps and details of what is changing as a result.

The aim of the SEND and Inclusion support Model is to ensure that schools and families receive the right support, which will enable more children to access their local provision, alongside their friends and siblings.  For most children this will result in better outcomes and the best chance of independence in their adult life.

The Model works within the 15 school and community zones and introduces new approaches, including Teams Around the School (TAS), Way Forward Meetings (WFM), Zone Inclusion Partnerships (ZIP) and Strategic Meetings.

The Zone Inclusion Partnerships (ZIPs) aim to bring together schools, partners and the LA within a zone to encourage collaboration, challenge and share best practice, supporting the development of multi-agency initiatives to improve outcomes for young people within the zone. 

The Team Around the School (TAS) approach will see a multi-disciplinary team from NCC and partners meeting regularly with schools to review and support the provision available to children.

Strategic meetings will take place with Multi Academy Trusts and our LA Maintained schools, starting with our larger federations. Strategic meetings are an opportunity for the LA and Trusts/large federations to work together to celebrate good practice and work together to identify areas for development that promote inclusive practice across a trust or federation.  In the future we will be looking at how we work with groups of LA schools to promote similar practices.

You will still have access to the Local and Graduated Offers (SEND Local Offer - Norfolk County Council) to find information and advice, as well as the SEND and Inclusion Support line.

We have been rolling out the SEND and Inclusion Support model since September 2024 and have made significant progress.

The phoneline has been live since September 2024, and has responded to over 2600 calls from schools, parents, and professionals. The feedback has been positive, with many describing the service as "quick and effective", which has helped schools and parents feel "heard and understood".

Phase 1 zones (North Norwich and Kings Lynn & West Norfolk (CEN)) have held their initial Team Around the School (TAS) Meetings and the first Zone Inclusion Partnership (ZIP) meetings have taken place in the Phase 2 zones.  Feedback from these meetings has enabled us to continue to refine the model and identify key areas of focus for future discussions.

Positive feedback from schools about the model has included:

• The variety of county council services attending TAS meetings is having a positive impact as it allows schools to address multiple issues in a single meeting
• Consistency of the zone teams has helped build trust and familiarity
• Meeting actions have been implemented promptly

Feedback on areas which could be improved has included:

• Requests for more school influence over meeting agendas
• More opportunities to discuss individual children
• A recommendation to include health professionals, such as NDS or SALT within the model

As we move into 2025, we will continue to roll out the Model in a phased way to the rest of the County. We are now able to provide more information on the next phases of the plan.  

Phase 1 - Spring Term 2025

Those schools in Phase 1 (Norwich North and Kings Lynn and West Norfolk (Central, East and North) have already attended their first ZIP meetings, with the second ZIP meeting being booked for this term.

They will also hold their initial TAS meetings through the Spring Term. The TAS meetings will take the place of Core Consultations, building on the partnership approach that has already been established by these meetings. These TAS meetings will help support schools to continually develop their SEND provision, providing extra guidance where required, alongside specific support to children or settings where needed. 

Schools not in these two zones will continue with their Core Consultations during the Spring and Summer Terms.

Phase 2 - Summer Term 2025

The following zones will be in Phase 2:

• Great Yarmouth (North)
• Great Yarmouth (South)
• North Norfolk
• Broadland (North)
• Breckland (South)
• South Norfolk (South)
• Norwich (South)
   

Schools in Phase 2 zones will be contacted before February half term to book in their initial ZIP meetings. These meetings will provide an opportunity for each zone to meet their new Zone Team, as well as introducing the ZIP process.

After the Easter holidays, TAS meetings will be rolled out to Phase 2 schools, in place of Core Consultations.  

Schools in Phase 3 zones will continue with their Core Consultations until September 2025.

Phase 3 - September 2025 onwards

The following zones will be in Phase 3:

• Broadland (East)
• South Norfolk (North East)
• Kings Lynn & West Norfolk (South & West)
• South Norfolk (North West)
• Broadland (South)
• Breckland (North)

Schools in Phase 3 will be invited to their first ZIP meeting after the Summer half term.  Their TAS meetings will start in the Autumn Term.

The planned roll out is summarised in the diagram below:

If you are unsure of which zone your school is in, you can double check here: Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers - Schoolfinder

As we implement the Model, more Children's Services teams will be moving to align themselves with Zones.  In some instances, this may mean that the staff members who have previously been working with your schools may change. Where this is the case, we will make every effort to provide continuity of support and phased handovers to ensure that new staff have a good understanding of schools and children in their new areas of responsibility. 

The aim of Zone Inclusion Partnership (ZIP) Meetings is to bring together zone Head Teachers and SENDCos, the Local Authority and Partners to encourage collective zone responsibility for SEND and inclusion. The ZIP will support the development of a self-improving and supportive education system within a zone. ZIP meetings are held termly.

 This will be achieved through:   

• Supporting schools to develop a deep understanding of the needs of their community
• The analysis of zone data, highlighting best practice or development opportunities within a zone 
• Sharing best practice between schools within a zone
• Agreeing the best collective use of resources within the zone to support SEND and Inclusion
• Proactively aligning with national priorities and strategies for SEND and Inclusion

The first ZIP meetings in the Phase 2 zones have been instrumental in setting expectations for the model and identifying key areas of focus for future discussions. 

During these meetings schools have said these should include discussions on a range of issues including:

• Current practices around EHCPs
• Transitions
• Speech and language support
• Clarity of support available around children at risk of exclusion
• Proposals for collaborative approaches to managing student absences

As part of the new Model, we are really excited to tell you that we have taken the decision to move away from selling EPSS Traded Services. From September 2025, EPSS will be free to access for all mainstream schools in Norfolk.  

We hope this will lead to a more accessible and equitable service across the county that will improve outcomes for more children by supporting them earlier to prevent needs escalating.

How will this change work?

As part of the SEND and Inclusion Support Model, we encourage all schools to be part of Zone Inclusion Partnership (ZIP) and Team around the School (TAS) meetings. These will act as forums to understand need and agree what support is required from a range of different disciplines to build a school's or a zone's inclusion offer.

EPSS support will be discussed with schools at their TAS meetings, in the context of their Universal, Targeted and Enhanced offers, relating to whole school, cohort or children.  If support is discussed and agreed at a TAS meeting, EPSS will contact the school to agree next steps.  

The transition from a traded to a non-traded service will be delivered in phases to allow us to honour existing contracts with schools which will run to the natural end of their contract period. The details of this transition are set out below. We have also pulled together a list of key questions on which people may want further information.

Phase 1 - January to April 2025

All current contracts will continue. At the end of the Spring Term, contracts with maintained schools will come to a natural end, and maintained schools will access EPSS services via the SEND and Inclusion Model (where this has been rolled out in their zone) or via core Consultations (where the Model has not been rolled out to their zone).

Phase 2 - April to September 2025

Maintained schools in zones where the Model has been rolled out (Phase 2 zones) will access EPSS via discussions at a TAS meeting. Any EPSS intervention agreed would be offered at no cost to the school.

Maintained schools in Phase 3 zones will request EPSS support through their Core Consultation.

Academies who have purchased EPSS support will continue to use their traded days. Where an academy is in a zone where the Model has been rolled out, use of EPSS days will be agreed through TAS meetings.  Where academies are in a zone where the Model has not been rolled out, the use of their remaining EPSS days will be discussed through Core Consultations for the Spring and Summer Terms 2025.  

Phase 3 - September 2025 onwards

From September, the SEND and Inclusion Support Model will be rolled out in all zones, and all traded EPSS contracts will have ceased. All requests for EPSS support will therefore be via the Model, and where support is agreed, this will be at no cost to the school.

There will be no changes to the way Critical Incident Support and Special Schools contracts are accessed.

As EPSS transitions from a traded to a non-traded service, the methods by which schools access their services will be changing. Over the summer, there will be three routes for requesting EPSS support.

The first method is via Team Around the School Meetings (TAS) or core consultation meetings. Schools in Phase one or two of the rollout should discuss their support requirements during their TAS meetings. If you are a school in Phase three of the rollout, please use your core consultation meetings to discuss requests for support.

The second method is to phone the SEND and Inclusion Support line (0333 313 7165). If you cannot wait for your next meeting, please call the support line where they will discuss your request and forward it to the appropriate team.

Finally, if you are an Academy with an existing contract, please use the original referral form or discuss your requirements during your regular core consultation.

In the Autumn Term, once all zones are operational, the two ways to request support will be via TAS meetings or the support line.

EPSS Support Allocation 

As EPSS transitions from a traded to a non-traded service, we are working to provide a baseline universal service to schools. We aim to allocate EPSS resources notionally at a zonal level, ensuring equality of resource allocation across the county, and supporting prioritisation of areas of highest need.  To assist in identifying these needs, resource requirements can and should be discussed at TAS meetings. This will enable us to understand your requirements and discuss the level of support you might expect.

Support allocation within this model is new and evolving, so will be monitored and reviewed on a termly basis to ensure equality/standards of practice across zones and satisfaction by schools.

Strategic meetings have now started taking place with Trusts and larger federations. These aim to create opportunities at a strategic level to reflect, review and collaborate to support outcomes for children.

By now, all Trusts and larger federations have been introduced to their lead adviser and have either held their first strategic meeting or have it booked in.

This is a big change to ways of working and we are keen to help people understand what it will mean for them. As well as the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the next page, we held two webinars about the model and changes to the EPSS delivery model.

The slides for the webinars are available to download here (Powerpoint, 3 MB).

You are also welcome to submit any questions to cs.transformation@norfolk.gov.uk. While we may not be able to respond to all queries individually, we will use any information submitted to shape the content of the webinars and future FAQs.

Q: As a school that has doesn't buy EPSS services, will I get free access to them now? 

A: Yes, access to EPSS support will be free of charge for all mainstream schools. Support from EPSS will be discussed and agreed via the new SEND and Inclusion Support Model.  

Q: Does my school have to attend TAS meetings to get access to free EPSS support? 

A: We encourage all schools to work with us to identify areas where support is required and to provide an appropriate coordinated response. 

Q: How are NCC allocating resource to schools? 

A: We are allocating resource based on zones and presenting needs.  

Q: Can my school buy any EPSS traded services from NCC in addition to those that will be free of charge? 

A: Critical Incident support and trading to special schools will continue, but no other EPSS traded services can be purchased. 

Q: As a school that buys a lot of EPSS resources, can I expect the same level of support? 

A: The level of EPSS support provided to you will be discussed at TAS meetings, where a plan for coordinated and targeted support will be agreed. In some cases, this may be lower than in previous years, but the agreed support will be free of charge.  

Q: Can I use a blend of NCC provided EPSS resource and private provider resource?  

A: Yes, should you wish to purchase any support from providers in addition to that provided by NCC, you can do so.  

Q: Can I request EPSS services outside of a TAS meeting?  

A: Yes, if you are not in a position to discuss EPSS support at your TAS meeting, you can contact the SEND and Inclusion Support Line. We anticipate, however, that the TAS meeting will be the main forum for agreeing support. You can contact the phoneline Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm on 0333 313 7165.  

Q: Can I top up my current EPSS traded days?  

A: Maintained schools can top up EPSS Traded days until the Feb 25 half term, but all referrals and commissioned work must be with EPSS before this date. All purchased EPSS days must be used by the end of the Spring Term 

Academies can top up their EPSS contracts until April 25.  

Q: Is this a new way of delivering core consultations? 

A: The SEND and Inclusion Support Model and the provision of fully funded EPSS support will go beyond what we could previously deliver through core consultations. We will provide more specialist support upfront to understand school and child-level needs and deliver a targeted approach to support. 

The provision of EPSS resource via the SEND and Inclusion Support Model will lead to a more accessible and equitable service across the county. EPSS will also be able to work in conjunction with other NCC teams to provide a more coordinated approach to supporting children.   

Q: As a trust that buys EPSS resource for multiple schools, how do I manage resource across multiple zones during the roll out of the Model?   

A: As we roll out the Model across Norfolk, we will continue to work with those trusts with outstanding EPSS traded days, either via core consultations or TAS meetings.  

Q: I understand that maintained school contracts will finish at the end of Spring term but academies will continue until the end of the summer term.  What is the rationale for academies continuing to pay for EPSS Services in the summer term whilst maintained schools  will receive support for free?

A: We acknowledge this challenge and the concerns it may bring.  We are trying to introduce a long-term change for the system as a whole, but we want to ensure that we do this in a manner that will be successful for the system and schools, so we ask for your understanding to achieve the longer term aim.  

By allowing academies to run down their previously purchased days over the Summer Term, academies in both Phase 2 and 3 zones have a higher degree of continuity over the transition period, allowing them to plan how they wish to use up their remaining trading days, while discussing with us what support they would like after their contracts end.  Conversations have or are taking place with academy and maintained schools in phase 1 zones.

This approach we hope, will provide a smoother transition for those Academies still holding contracts with us, allowing us to ringfence their resource, over the summer.

However, if as an academy you want to discuss your individual academy / trusts situation then please get in touch.

Q: Will Special Schools continue to be able to purchase EPSS Support?

A: Yes, Special Schools can still purchase EPSS support via a traded model.