Referral forms, documents and guidance for RCBC Education Services

For the Resource and Support Panel Referral Form 2024-2025 - please use link below

All completed referral paperwork must be sent to RSP@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk 

At some point, a learner may need to access specialist support – this can be requested through the Resource and Support panel. The Resource and Support Panel (RSP) provides access to schools to High Needs Funding (HNF), our Resourced Provisions, Outreach, Educational Psychology (parent centred/multi-agency approach), Specialist Teaching Service, SENDCo Mentors and LA advice and support. The RSP will only accept referrals for learners without a current Education, Health, and Care Plan as it is for non-statutory learning needs. Panel members include Senior Educational Psychologist, Designated Clinical Officer, Education Development Officers for SEND and Inclusion, Specialist Teachers for Autism and SEMH, a Head Teacher from Primary school, Representatives from one of the Support Base Provisions and Early Help Service Representative. We do welcome observers from school to panel, which is highly recommended. If you would like to observe panel, please contact monica.wheater@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk and a link will be sent. 

Schools use a single referral form to request the resource or support of the above services, which must be received on the Wednesday before 1pm prior to panel on the following Tuesday. This referral form must be signed by parents before consideration at panel - without parental consent, the referral will be automatically returned to the referring school. Once the referral has been signed, this gives the panel permission to share information with other services as felt necessary. The form allows for the setting to indicate the type of support/resource that they would like to access for the learner. The RSP meet on a three-weekly cycle although not during school holidays. The panel is chaired by a senior member of the local authority and includes a range of educational, health and social care professionals along with representatives from the additional resourced provisions (primary and secondary) who aim to assess each referral by gathering a holistic view of the learner. This may mean that the panel may allocate a different resource or support than the school setting was initially requesting on the referral form. If a learner is only requiring an assessment from the Special Teaching Service (STS) and this is indicated clearly on the form, this will be sent straight to the STS, this will then be triaged, and the appropriate specialist teacher will contact the referrer to discuss the referral and the learner’s needs. 

After the panel has met, the referring school will be contacted within 10 days of the panel meeting to discuss the outcome of the panel. If a change in High Needs Funding has been requested, a professional will visit the referring school to discuss the learner and their needs. They may use the SEND Ranges to decide the amount of funding to be allocated. Any change in funding can be made immediately so that schools can have access to extra funding to meet the needs of the learner. An increase in funding will be backdated and paid at the next round of High Needs Funding which is paid each term. 

For the Resource and Support Panel Referral Form 2024-2025 - please use link below All completed referral paperwork must be sent to RSP@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk 

The deadline for paperwork is the Wednesday prior to panel before 1pm. If received after this time, the referral will not be considered by panel until the next meeting. 

Through a referral to RSP the following can be allocated:

High Needs Funding: high needs funding can be allocated up to range 4.2 through RSP. 

Educational Psychology Service: parent centred/multi-agency approach with Christine Sketchley (Senior Educational Psychologist). She works closely with school and family to coordinate services and to support the child using a psychological approach. 

Specialist Teaching Service: ASC and Learning: The Specialist Teaching Service has advisors who are specialist teachers in learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Hospital and Community Teaching: for students who are unable to attend school for more than 14 days for a valid medical reason which should be authorised by a consultant/paediatrician who states that the child/young person is unfit for school and recommends how many hours tuitions they are able to access. 

Recommendation for initiating Statutory Assessment (RSP SARS1): In some cases, a SARS1 may be recommended by panel. This is when the panel members consider that a statutory EHC Needs assessment may be needed. A RSP SARS1 form will be sent along with the minutes from panel to the referring school asking them to complete and return to SEN@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Alongside this paperwork, parent/carer and child’s views form will also be sent with information about the SENDIASS service. We ask school to discuss what the statutory process is with parent/carers and to ensure that this is the route that they would like to take for their child/young person. Once the paperwork has been received it will be heard at Multi-Agency Education Health and Care Panel. There is no need to carry out a Referral Planning Meeting as this should already have been discussed with parent/carers. 

This does not affect a parent/carer or schools right to make a referral into the local authority for statutory assessment. Parent/carers can request a statutory assessment at any time if they feel their child has SEND. If this is the case, the IPSEA website has excellent resources to support a parental request. The SENDIASS can also support with this. 

We have developed a leaflet for parent/carers to explain the role of the Resource and Support Panel.