SEND FAQs: For SENCos

The most effective way to contact us is by email at: SENDService@swindon.gov.uk.

All contacts are logged, referenced and triaged.

In order to make this more efficient, please ensure the subject line includes one of the options below:

• SENCo clinic booking
• Transport
• Pupil query, including name and date of birth
• Process query
• Annual review meeting date
• Annual review query
• Consultation response
• EHCP copy request
• Statutory assessment professional advice

Yes. However, please be mindful that we may be in other meetings and might not be available. It is therefore advisable to contact us via email and book a call at a SENCo clinic slot. There are currently 26 hours per week available for SENCo clinics.

All annual reviews must be submitted in the timeframes prescribed by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice, for example, 10 working days following the review or the end of term whichever is the earliest.

Please note: If a review is not received within this timeframe, it may not be processed as a priority.

All annual reviews must be submitted to annualreviews@swindon.gov.uk.

We recognise that this is sometimes required, however there are other local authority representatives at reviews including Educational Psychologists and Advisory Teachers.

If you feel that attendance from one of the SEND Service representatives is essential, book a SENCo clinic slot to discuss your requirements. If attendance is appropriate, you can agree a date and time with the co-ordinator and whether the review can be virtual.

If a face to face review is required, it may be necessary for us to send a different co-ordinator depending on individual risk assessments.

See: SENCo clinics

We are inundated with requests for the latest copy of pupil’s EHCPs. Please store your copy securely and ensure you only request further copies when absolutely necessary.

If it is a case of checking to see you have the latest copy, put this in the request and we will confirm this with you.

The Special Educational Needs & Disability Code of Practice is clear that local authorities must have issued final amended plans for phase transfer of pupils by no later than 15 February in the year of transfer for primary to secondary provision. It must also be no later than 31 March in the year of transfer for those young people moving from year 11 into post 16 provisions.

Please do not contact us about decisions on phase transfer placements as we will not be able to give you a response. Parents will receive draft amended plans before Christmas.

We recognise this is an extremely anxious time for families but we will deliver within the statutory timeframes prescribed.

If you are contacting us about a change to transport in the next 24 hours, call Education Transport on 07973 679816.

If you are contacting us about a change to transport outside this period, email educationtransport@swindon.gov.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.

See also: Applying for school travel assistance