SENSS Communication and Interaction Support Service

The Communication and Interaction Support Service is part of SENSS which is a countywide Special Educational Needs (SEN) teaching and advisory support service.

What’s important to us (our values):

We work in partnership to secure good outcomes and a positive future for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC).

Our aim is that children and young people with SLCN and ASC make good progress, achieve well and enjoy school, family and community life.

What we do:

· Support, advise and empower staff in schools and settings to understand the needs of children and young people with speech, language and communication needs and Autism Spectrum Conditions.

· Provide assessment and advice in relation to the child / young person’s speech, language and communication needs or Autism Spectrum Condition.

· Ensure that the views, wishes, perspectives and experiences of the children and young people are fully reflected in their provision.

· Support children and young people to develop a positive understanding of their own speech, language and communication needs or Autism Spectrum Condition.

· Carry out assessments in relation to specialist equipment.

· Make specialist provision for children with particular needs in a number of specialist Resources Bases attached to mainstream schools.

· We base our work on the strongest evidence base recognising that there are other approaches

Who we offer this service to:

We work with children and young people with:

· Speech, Language and Communication Needs

·  Autism Spectrum Conditions

From when they start nursery or reception at their local school.

How and when we do it:

· We are a service which is available during school term time.

· We work primarily in schools and educational settings, but also in homes, where necessary.

· We have a range of professionals in our teams including specialist advisory teachers, support workers, therapists, technicians and learning mentors.

· We work closely with SENCOs, class teachers, teaching assistants and other support staff in schools.

· We liaise closely with families and we work collaboratively with other agencies involved with the child.

· We provide advice, support, interventions and some direct teaching.

· We offer a range of training from individual training around a child’s needs to whole school and area based specialist courses to support continuing professional development

SENSS staff work hard, in partnership with schools and families, to ensure that children with SEND are well supported.  In doing this they are entitled to respect.  SENSS will not tolerate rudeness or any behaviour toward staff that undermines them and we request that staff are treated with respect at all times. Thank you for your support in this.

How to contact us:

Please call 01865 323070 if you are unsure.

Safeguarding

We respect the need for confidentiality and the responsible and informed sharing of personal information. If there are concerns regarding a child’s safety we would, having, where possible, initially identified our concerns with the parents/ carers, liaise with Social Care in accordance with Oxfordshire’s Safeguarding Children procedures. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/report-child-abuse

Comments, Compliments and Complaints:

If you wish to make a comment , give a compliment or make a complaint about the service, please contact SENSS on 01865 323070 and ask to speak to a senior manager. Or you can email the service at senss@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Alternatively contact: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/comments-compliments-and-complaints-about-oxfordshire-county-council