Referral forms for RCBC Education and EHCP Processes

For the Resource and Support  Referral Form 2025-2026 - please use link below. 

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

 Please use the form below from September 26 

At some point, a learner may need to access specialist support – this can be requested by submitting a Resource and Support Referral. Resource and Support Referral  provides access to schools to High Needs Funding (HNF), Educational Psychology: Adults First Model (parent centred/multi-agency approach), Specialist Teaching Service,  Hospital and Community teaching, Overfields Speech and Language Unit and Moonstone provision. The RS Referral Form will only accept referrals for learners without a current Education, Health, and Care Plan as it is for non-statutory learning needs. 

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 the paperwork being sent to the various services. 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  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 deadline for paperwork is on a monthly cycle although not during school holidays. 

After decisions have been made the referring school will be contacted within 10 days of the panel meeting to discuss the outcome of the referral.  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. 

The deadline for paperwork is the Wednesday prior to paperwork being set out. If received after this time, the referral will not be considered  until the next meeting. Dates in 2026-2027 are below.  

Through a referral to RS 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: Autism, SEMH and Cognition and Learning: The Specialist Teaching Service has advisors who are specialist teachers in learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Social, Emotional and Mental health difficulties 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. 

Moonstone provision at Mo Mowlam Academy: this is a setting offering outreach and inreach (if appropriate) for children who are at risk of suspension or permanent exclusion. There must be a clear and evidenced graduated response by school prior to Moonstone being considered. 

Overfields Speech and Language Unit: this is a setting which offers outreach and inreach support for children speech and language difficulties who must be known to Speech and language therapy service. 

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.