Hull City Council has announced the relaunch and expansion of its SEND Outreach Partnership, strengthening support for schools and reinforcing its commitment to inclusive education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Led by the Council’s Statutory SEND Services Team, the expanded partnership ensures SEND training and specialist support is accessible, practical and relevant for every school in the city.
SEND Outreach services support children and young people with SEND by providing a wide range of professional support, including:
- staff training
- coaching
- mentoring
- advice and targeted intervention for individual pupils
As always, the aim is to help children with SEND benefit and receive access to the same educational opportunities as their peers.
With increasing numbers of children with complex needs being supported in mainstream settings, the expanded outreach offer is designed to ensure all school staff feel confident, skilled and supported.
This expansion builds on the introduction of Hull’s SEND Workforce Development Strategy, which focuses on strengthening skills, confidence and inclusion across the education workforce. It also includes new sensory-focused support, plus additional training opportunities.
Sarah Harrowing, Interim SEND Outreach Manager at Hull City Council, said: “All academy trusts in Hull have invested in this outreach offer, which shows a really strong commitment across the city. We’ve also received overwhelmingly positive feedback from schools via the SENCO Forum, as well as from education staff who have attended the training events hosted so far.”
Three tiers of SEND support
- Tier One – Universal Training: 15 training courses cover areas including autism, sensory needs, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) and trauma-informed behaviour. These can be delivered face-to-face, online and through twilight sessions. Universal Training is open to all schools.
- Tier Two – Bespoke School Support: Tailored training, based on individual school needs. Outreach teams can visit schools to review learning environments and recommend targeted strategies.
- Tier Three – Individual Pupil Support: Six-week or six-session programmes to upskill staff supporting specific pupils with complex needs. These are accessed via SENCO referral and are assessed by outreach providers.
Councillor Linda Tock, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Education at Hull City Council, said: “Every child in Hull deserves an education that recognises their individual needs and helps them to thrive. The expansion of our SEND Outreach Partnership is a clear statement of our commitment to inclusion, and to supporting schools to meet increasingly complex needs.
“By investing in high-quality training and specialist support for education staff across the city, we are strengthening confidence in mainstream settings and ensuring SEND really is everyone’s business, not just the responsibility of SENCOs. This partnership will help create consistent, inclusive learning environments where all children and young people can reach their full potential.”
For more information on the Hull SEND Local Offer, visit https://hullsendlocaloffer.org.uk/.