Organisation of Inclusion Support
Inclusion Support is organised into three area delivery teams based around the Six Towns Model used by the whole council.
The North Team covers West Bromwich, Great Barr and Wednesbury,
The South Team covers Smethwick and Oldbury and
These are multi-professional teams working in close cooperation to provide the highest quality of service to the Borough of Sandwell.
An outline of these teams and services is given below.
Teams and an Outline of their Roles
Adinistrative Team is responsible for:
- Supporting the work of all members of the service
- Presenting the public face of IS with being the most usual point of 'first contact' for those outside the Education Department
Educational Psychologists ( EP's ) are responsible for:
- Psychological assessment of the needs of children and families from pre-school to 19 yrs
- Individual counselling and support programmes
- In service training
- Consultation with schools and parents at SAP (Service Agreement Plan) meetings
- Advice and project work for the LA to support school improvement activities
Educational Social Workers ( ESW's ) are responsible for:
- Social work assessment of the needs of children and families
- Implementation of social work programmes with children and families
- Individual and family counselling
- Parent training
Individual Pupil Support Team ( IPS ) is responsible for:
- Providing individual support and assessment for statemented pupils of school age who experience Specific Learning Difficulties ( SpLD ), general learning difficulties or emotional/behavioural difficulties
- In service training
- Liaison with SENCO's, school staff, parents and other professional groups
- Contributing to LA and school development
- Acting in a direct teaching and/or advisory capacity
Special Educational Needs Advisory Teachers (Behaviour) [ SENAT (B)'s ] are responsible for:
- Advice, assessment and support for schools primarily in respect of children with behaviour difficulties
- In service training
- Consultation with schools and parents at SAP (Service Agreement Plan) meetings
Advice and project work for the LA to support school improvement and raising standards
Special Educational Needs Advisory Teachers (Learning) [ SENAT (L)'s ] are responsible for:
- Advice, assessment and support for schools primarily in respect of children with learning difficulties
- LA monitoring of reading standards
- Consultation with schools and parents at SAP (Service Agreement Plan) meetings
- In service training
- Advice and project work for the LA to support school improvement and raising standards
( working with children in public care ) are responsible for:
- Supporting the Local Authority in its role as Corporate parent
- Providing specific programmes to raise educational standards, self esteem and develop personal and social skills
- Working with the LA to tackle underachievement
- Supporting carers and workers in meeting the educational needs of Looked After Children through training
- Promoting the needs and aspirations of LACE in Local Authority policy and practice
- Liasing with designated teachers and link social workers to ensure that children have a Personal Education Plan
- Undertaking fast-track assessments if appropriate
- Tracking the progress and achievements of children and young people
Pre-School Team is responsible for:
- Assessment of pre-school special needs
- Implementation of home-based teaching programmes
- Supporting pre-school activities in schools and with voluntary groups
- Advice, assessment and support for children with visual or auditory sensory impairments from birth to age 19yrs
- Working with schools to provide support and curriculum access for these students including special arrangements for national examinations (including SATs)
- Mobility and independence training where appropriate
- In service training
- Advice on the use and maintenance of low and high level support technologies
- Acting in a direct working and/or advisory capacity
- Liaison with SENCO's, school staff, FE providers, parents and other professional groups, (Health and Social Inclusion
Specialist / Inclusion Teacher For Pupils With Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ADS) are responsible for:
- Advice, assessment and support for schools primarily in respect of children with behaviour difficulties
- In service training
- Consultation with schools and parents at SAP (Service Agreement Plan) meetings
- Advice and project work for the LA to support school improvement and raising standards