Support and Advice
Education
Wandsworth’s SEND Local Offer
This section of Wandsworth’s Local Offer explains the different types of educational provision available for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
SEND support in mainstream nurseries, schools and colleges
Ordinarily Available Provision refers to the support children and young people with SEND, but without an EHCP, should receive in mainstream nurseries, schools and post 16 settings. This document provides information on the different types of special educational needs and disabilities and how mainstream settings should provide for these from their general school budgets.
Parents guide to the Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) document
Send Parent Carers has worked with the Inclusion Service to coproduce a simplified guide to the OAP document, for parents and carers. You can find the English version of the document here.
The Parent/Carers Guide is also available in the following languages and available to download on the website.
Social Stories
Social Stories help autistic children understand routines, manage change and feel more confident in everyday situations.
Social Story Templates is a free, easy-to-use platform offering personalised, downloadable Social Stories for parents, carers, teachers and SEND professionals.
Designed with accessibility in mind, it helps reduce anxiety, build understanding and support calmer, happier daily experiences for neurodiverse children.
There are hundreds of social stories, with a variety of images of children, to choose from. For specific social story requirements, email support@mail.socialstorytemplates.com
Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
An Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) is a legal document which describes a child or young person’s (aged 0-25 years) special educational needs , the support they need, and the outcomes they would like to achieve.
The special educational provision described in an EHC plan must be provided by the child or young person’s local authority. This means an EHC plan can give a child or young person extra educational support. It can also give parents and young people more choice about which school or other setting the child or young person can attend.
An EHC plan can only be issued after a child or young person has gone through the process of an Education, Health and Care needs assessment.
Go to the website for information on the following :
-Video: What is an EHC plan and who is it for?
-Identifying and assessing Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
-Requesting an Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment
-What if the local authority (council) doesn’t agree to assess my child?
-Education Health and Care Plan documents
Annual Review of an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
WIASS have created a helpful booklet explaining the annual review process.
Preparing for Adulthood Service
Preparing for Adulthood Service is the social work (social care) team which supports young people (14-25 years) with disabilities and mental health concerns, and their parents/carers, during the transition period. The link takes you to the local offer page which provides information on the following :
-What transition planning involves
-Principles of a good transition
-The transition journey
-Young People’s lived experiences
-Transitions key contacts
Post 16 options, Internships:
Supported internships are a structured study programme based primarily at an employer. They enable young people aged 16-24 with a Learning Difficulty Assessment or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), to achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.
Supported internships are unpaid, and last for a minimum of six months, but are normally for a year. They are usually 20 hours per week. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant substantial qualifications, if appropriate, and English and maths.
A guide to Post 16 Phase Transfer Process for pupils with an EHCP
Find out about different types of post 16 options and what happens when.
Mental Health and Wellbeing in school
Information on a range of resources, available at a national and local level, that promote good mental health and wellbeing support for school-age children.
Emotionally Based School Non Attendance (EBSNA)
EBSNA is a term used to describe children and young people who struggle to attend school due to experiencing high levels of anxiety.
-You can find information and advice about this on the IPSEA website.
-Read an article from Wandsworth’s School and Community Psychology Service on Supporting Autism and EBSA here
-The Home and Hospital Tuition Service have created a PADLET with some useful information on push pull factors associated with school related anxiety. You can find this HERE.
Education Other Than in School or College (EOTIS/EOTIC)
IPSEAS has provided clear information on the difference between elective home education (EHE) and education other than in school /college (EOTIS/EOTIC) and how these relate to children and young people with and without EHCP’s.
A useful FAQ’s page can be found here.
Young Giants
Young Giants is a teacher-led tuition and mentoring service providing bespoke and flexible programmes of education for learners in need of alternative provision. They are experienced in supporting children and young people with a wide range of additional needs and those missing education and those who are at risk of, or have been permanently excluded from school.
Transport
WIASS have produced a useful leaflet about transport support with FAQ’s related to compulsory school age children. Transport for children with an EHCP who attend specialist provision but are below compulsory school age, (the term after their fifth birthday). will need to be discussed on an individual basis with the local authority.
