Team Around the School (TaS)

The Team Around the School is a coordinated group of SEND professionals who are linked to each Havering school. Rather than schools having to approach different services separately, a team of specialists works in partnership with the school to:

· Understand the school’s context and priorities

· Plan support together

· Provide advice, training and consultation

· Help the school strengthen its inclusive practice

The Team Around the School does not replace the support your child receives from their class teacher or SENCo. Instead, it works alongside school staff to enhance their skills, knowledge and confidence in meeting a wide range of additional needs.

Parents and carers do not refer directly to the Team Around the School. If your child’s school would benefit from additional advice or specialist input, the school will discuss this through their allocated team.

Each school has access to a range of SEND professionals. Depending on the needs within the school, this may include:

Educational Psychologists (EPs)

Educational Psychologists work with schools and families to support children and young people aged 0–25. They apply psychology to understand learning, behaviour, communication, emotional wellbeing and development.

They may:

· Help schools explore complex or “stuck” situations

· Contribute to assessment and planning

· Support staff to develop effective strategies

· Contribute to Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments

SEND Advisory Teachers

Advisory Teachers are qualified teachers with specialist expertise in particular areas of SEND. In Havering, this includes:

· Communication and Interaction (C&I)

· Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

· Physical Disabilities, Complex and/or Medical Needs (PDCM)

· Vision Impairment (VI)

· Hearing Impairment / Deafness (HI)

· Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)

Advisory Teachers may:

· Advise schools on effective support plans

· Deliver training to school staff

· Model strategies and approaches

· Support schools to review and refine provision

· Recommend specialist adaptations, resources or equipment where appropriate

· Contribute to Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and reviews

SEND Advisors

SEND Advisors work closely with Advisory Teachers and focus on helping staff put strategies into practice. This may involve:

· Modelling approaches in the classroom

· Coaching teachers and support staff

· Supporting implementation of agreed support plans

Case Officers Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs)

Case Officers oversee statutory processes relating to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). They:

· Coordinate EHC needs assessments

· Issue and review EHCPs

· Act as the main point of contact for schools and families regarding the EHCP process

Counselling Support

Counsellors work with schools to provide structured, time-limited counselling for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs. This support:

· Provides a confidential space for young people

· Helps develop coping strategies

· Promotes emotional wellbeing

· Works alongside school staff to ensure consistent support

The Team Around the School strengthens a school’s ability to meet a wide range of needs by:

· Building staff expertise

· Supporting early identification of needs

· Promoting inclusive classroom practice

· Helping schools respond effectively to emerging concerns

· Ensuring joined-up working between education and other services

This means your child’s school has access to specialist advice and guidance when needed, without families having to navigate multiple services themselves.

Support is also available for early years settings across Havering through the Early Years SEND Support Service. The way this support operates is different from the Team Around the School model used in schools.

Early years settings receive specialist advice, training and support tailored to the needs of younger children and the early years curriculum.

The Team Around the School approach reflects Havering’s commitment to partnership working between schools, families and specialist services.

If you have concerns about your child’s learning or development, your first point of contact should always be your child’s class teacher or the school’s SENCo. They can explain what support is already in place and whether additional advice from external professionals is needed.

By ensuring every school has access to a coordinated team of specialists, the London Borough of Havering aims to provide timely, consistent and high-quality support so that children and young people with SEND can thrive in their local school community.