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SENISS

The Special Educational Needs Inclusion Support Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Aims of the Service

To ensure:

    • A focus on inclusive practice and removing barriers to learning
    • The participation of children and young people, and their parents/carers in decision making
    • Collaboration between Education, Health and Social care services to provide support for children and young people with SEND
    • Children, young people and their families are supported to plan for and prepare for positive transition at all stages of their childhood including preparation to adulthood
    • Children and young people, identified as having SEND, have their needs met effectively through high quality intervention and support
    • A focus on driving prevention, early identification, early intervention and the independence and empowerment of children and young people
    • Children, young people and their families are able to access clear and accurate information in relation to Liverpool Local Offer

Meet the Team

All about SENISS

SENISS exists to provide quality support to children and young people with special educational needs, in order to promote their inclusion within mainstream schools and nursery settings, to enable them to achieve their full potential.

The SENISS Team consists of 2 Operational Managers (who are also Specialist Advisory Teachers), 13 Specialist Advisory Teachers and 1 Business Support Officer.

The Specialist Advisory Teachers work across the Private, Voluntary & Independent (PVI), Primary, Secondary and Post-16 sectors. We provide support to children and young people through

  • The SEND Universal Offer – Early Years, Primary, Secondary
  • Specialist Advisory Teacher support for children/young people undergoing EHC processes and those with EHC Plans
  • Assessments for and Diagnoses of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
  • Access Arrangements at Key Stage 4 & 5
  • Specialist Teaching Interventions
  • An extensive programme of training for practitioners from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Post-16 provision in areas of SEND including the Autism Education Trust Training

 

We are a service who have been accredited (with a commendation) by the National Autistic Society (NAS).

If you would like to access support from SENISS for your child or young person, then please speak with your school or setting’s SENDCo or Inclusion Manager. They will then complete the referral form, if appropriate. In order for SENISS to be involved with a child or young person there must be signed consent from the adult with parental responsibility. See the ‘GDPR Compliant Outreach REFERRAL Permission Form’ in Downloads.

Early Years Consortia

Our Early Years Specialist Advisory Teachers offer a wide menu of support to our Early Years Settings through the Universal Offer. This support includes pupil specific observations and assessments, consultations and coaching, collaborative working and awareness raising training modules.

Within the Private, Voluntary & Independent (PVI) sector, SENISS offer Specialist Advisory Teacher support to the setting and will work with them and you to identify and support any additional educational needs that your child may have.  The Specialist Advisory Teacher time for a setting is accessed through the consortia model.

Alongside the Liverpool Educational Psychology Service, SENISS hold Practitioner Advice Sessions (PAS) in Early Years Consortia. These are an opportunity for settings to discuss strategies and recommendations for a child in their setting with SEND concerns. Permission to discuss any child must be sought from parents or carers prior to the PAS.

If you wish for your child to be supported by SENISS then please speak with your setting’s SENDCo.

Primary Consortia

Within Primary Schools across Liverpool, SENISS offer Specialist Advisory Teacher support to children from Nursery up to Y6. This support includes pupil specific observations and assessments, consultations and coaching, collaborative working and awareness raising training modules. Our Specialist Advisory teachers work with schools to identify and support any additional/special educational needs that your child may have. 

The Primary Schools across the city are divided in 13 different Consortia and each Consortia is allocated a number of sessions (mornings and afternoons) from SENISS. Schools in collaboration with the Specialist Advisory Teacher can then decide how they want to use this allocation of sessions. Your child’s teacher or the school SENDCo will know about this and will be able to help you.

If you wish for your child/young person to be supported by SENISS then please speak with your setting’s SENDCo.

Secondary SEND Support Offer

Within Secondary Schools across Liverpool, SENISS offer a menu of Specialist Advisory Teacher support to children from Y7 – Y13. This support includes pupil specific observations and assessments, consultations and coaching, collaborative working and awareness raising training modules. Our Specialist Advisory teachers work with schools to identify and support any additional/special educational needs that your child may have.

Presently, the strategic model of SEND support across Secondary schools in the city is being established through ongoing discussion with headteachers, SENDCos and LCC representatives.

If you wish for your child/young person to be supported by SENISS then please speak with your setting’s SENDCo.

EHCP

If your child has an EHCP they may receive Specialist Advisory Teacher support from SENISS. This could be in the form of direct teaching but mostly it will include half termly advice and recommendations to the setting so they can include, support and enable your child to achieve their full potential.

In addition, if your child is not in a setting and you are applying for an EHCP through the Liverpool SEN Team, SENISS may meet, assess and observe your child (Educational Advices) as part of this process. 

One of SENISS’ newest roles is to support Parents/Carers and Settings/Schools who receive a ‘No’ to an EHC (Education, Health and Care) Needs Assessment or a ‘No’ to an EHC Plan, through an SEN Support Planning Meeting for children and young people. This meeting will be person-centred and will include the Parent/Carer, Setting/School, Child/Young Person (if able), SENDCo and possibly other professionals, if appropriate.

Teaching

A school may choose to purchase a Weekly Service Level Agreement with SENISS for teaching support. Typically, the child/young person will have a weekly lesson and the focus and approach will be shared with School so they can implement additional lessons throughout the week, if it is appropriate. This teaching support may be with individual pupils or small groups who have been identified as needing specific provision from a Specialist Advisory Teacher.

Assessments

SENISS can carry out a number of informal or standardised assessments to support identification of your child or young person’s needs. Members of the SENISS team have additional qualifications enabling them to identify and diagnose Dyslexia and Dyscalculia as well as to complete some assessments for Access Arrangements (KS3/4) which are pre-examination adjustments for pupils based on evidence of need and normal way of working.

 

Reports relating to assessments carried out by SENISS will be sent directly to the setting whose responsibility it is to share with parents/carers.  Reports often include recommendations for both school and parents/carers.

Assessments are offered free of charge to schools through Universal Offer in the following areas:

- Cognition (Verbal and Non-Verbal Abilities)

- Learning ( eg Maths, Literacy)

- Phonological Awareness and Challenges

- Working Memory

- Processing (Visual/Auditory)

- Visual/Motor Integration

- Language (Interim Support)

Assessment requests from Schools are agreed and verified, as appropriate, with the SENISS Advisory Teacher

 

The Assessments below are offered at a cost to schools:

- Dyslexia (assessment, identification and recommendations to school and
  parents)

- Dyscalculia (assessment, identification and recommendations to school and
  parents)

- Access Arrangements (approved assessment for exam boards at £68 per hour)

Training

SENISS are designated trainers for the Autism Education Trust (AET).  AET is an organisation supported by the Department of Education (DFE) and is affiliated to the National Autistic Society.

We also provide a number of bespoke courses to support practitioners, teachers, teaching assistants and SENDCos across the city, in many aspects of SEND.

Many of our courses are free of charge to EYS settings and schools and can be accessed through Universal Offer. Each Course is approximately 1.5 – 2 hours in duration.

The training courses we currently offer through Consortia are:

  • Autism –Making Sense of Autism (AET)
  • AET Progression Framework (Schools)
  • Behaviour Management (Lower Primary)
  • Using Visuals to support Communication, Play and Learning
  • Dyslexia –Awareness raising
  • Dyscalculia- Awareness raising 
  • Down’s Syndrome Awareness
  • Precision Teaching 
  • Comic Strips and Social Stories
  • Emotional Wellbeing and Anxiety (and ASD
  • Inclusive Play
  • Working Memory

 

 In addition, we offer some traded training options. These are available to be purchased by individual settings, across Consortia or via open access courses

  • AET Good Autism Practice (Early Years & Schools – 3 hrs)
  • Supporting Children with Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties (4 x 2.5-3 hrs)
  • Supporting Children with Dyslexia or Dyslexic Tendencies (4 x 2.5-3 hrs)
  • Supporting Children with Down’s Syndrome (4 x 2.5-3 hrs)
  • Emotional Wellbeing and Anxiety and ASD (5 hrs)
  • Inclusive Play and Interaction (5 hrs)

See further details of SENISS training offer document

Who to contact

Contact Name
Alison Woodburn and Katie Roscoe
Contact Position
SENISS Operational Leaders
Telephone
E-mail
seniss@liverpool.gov.uk

Where to go

Name
c/o Cunard Buildings
Address
Water Street
Liverpool
Postcode
L3 1AH

Time / Date Details

Session Information
Term time only

Other Details

Availability

Referral required
Yes

Local Offer

Local Offer Age Bands
Primary (5 to 11)
Secondary (11 to 16)
Early Years (0 to 5)
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