Specialist Outreach Advisory Service (SOAS)

FAO: School leaders, SENCOs , 3 September 2025 09:57

The Specialist Outreach Advisory Service (SOAS) seeks to support mainstream settings in meeting the needs of pupils with complex Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

After a pilot period, the service is now fully operational, with a team of experienced advisers from five Complex Needs and Specialist Settings in the County.

The service seeks to achieve the following goals:

Increase parental confidence in mainstream SEND provision
Reduce the number of Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments by strengthening SEN Support
Help children remain educated locally
Build confidence in schools' ability to meet complex needs

If your setting has a cohort of children and or young people with complex SEND for which they are seeking support, please discuss at your Team Around the School (TAS) meeting. The Team Around a School will be able to signpost support based on the cohort's needs, which may include a referral to the Specialist Outreach Advisory Service.

More information about the service is available on the Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers website.

Last modified: 9 June 2026 11:27

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