Element 3: Next steps - Transition Planning for September 2025

FAO: School leaders and Business Managers , 3 June 2025 10:00

As in previous years, since February the LA's SEND teams have been working together to identify children and young people with high needs who will be transitioning into Year R, Year 3 (from an infant schools), and Year 7 in September of this year. We have also access to the information shared by schools with us with regards to their existing cohorts, IPSEF and GPMs, and we have been using this to help to inform us of the support which schools may require whilst preparing to receive new children.

This year, we are in the process of implementing the SEND & Inclusion Support Model (SISM) including the Team Around the School (TAS) approach.

In future, we anticipate most conversations that involve changes to Graduated Provision Maps (GPMs) to be held there, particularly at phase transfer stages, taking into consideration children with high needs that will be leaving the setting as well as those joining in September.
As we have recently gathered information from all schools about their SEND cohorts, we do not anticipate needs changing significantly between now and September. However, we would always expect schools to keep the needs of the children under review.
However, as we are currently in the roll-out phase and have had conversations with many schools as part of the recent GPM moderation of SEN information submitted in February, we have taken the opportunity to discuss transitions with settings as well as using those TAS meetings that are taking place and general SEND Adviser contact to have transition conversations.
We are identifying the settings where we may need to make contact where conversations have not already taken place through these routes. We are also monitoring requests for support via the SEND & Inclusion phoneline and Element 3 funding mailbox.

What do schools need to do?

As GPMs are central to all discussions, we advise settings to use these to show what adaptations to provision, if any, will need to be made as children leave and new children arrive.
If you have questions, our SEND Advisory team are on hand to support schools to plan provision and use their resources as effectively and efficiently as possible to meet the needs of their cohorts.
If, to meet the needs of your anticipated cohort in September, you believe that you need to make changes to your provision, then please share your revised GPM with us by sending it to the INDES/IPSEF mailbox, making it clear that this is a revised version for September 2025.
We will aim to provide an initial response within 2 weeks of receipt, which may be confirmation of moderation and next steps, or may indicate a need for further discussion between the LA and the school.

What does it mean for Element 3 funding?

We have issued planned allocations for E3 funding from September 2025 to the vast majority of schools in Norfolk, though conversations are ongoing with some where queries regarding provision remain
As an LA, we have committed to a system that is based upon working collaboratively with schools to support them with efficient and effective graduated SEND provision - to do this, we need open and transparent dialogues with schools
Through this sharing of information and associated dialogue, the LA will be able to identify if a change of E3 funding is required and will liaise directly with the school to amend this
Where there is a reduction in provision identified, the LA are available to discuss with the school any challenges they may have in transitioning to the reduced provision and seek to support the school to identify solutions