Schools can request support from outside agencies to support children with SEND either through direct referrals to the services or via the LIFT process (Local Inclusion Forum Team). Parents would always be consulted before a referral is made and will have the opportunity to see the completed referral form.

• Speech and Language Therapy – schools can refer directly after completing assessments in school such as Speech Link, Language Link or Language for Learning.
• Occupational Therapy – schools can refer directly is a child meets the criteria and has completed 50 sessions of ‘Fizzy.’
• Physiotherapy – schools can refer directly if a child meets the criteria.
• School Nursing Team – referrals can be made for specific areas of difficulty i.e. toileting issues, or for training for specific medical needs such as Epipens or Epilepsy.
• School Nurse Emotional Well-being Team – school can refer directly to access counselling services for children who require emotional support, this might also include while they are waiting for other services such as CAMHS who have long waiting lists.
• Specialist Teaching and Learning Service – advice from specialist teachers can be accessed via the LIFT process.  This is where the SENCO discussed a case with a group of professionals who give advice.  If accepted by STLS, a member of the team will observe and support a child in school.  The Team is split into Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction (which includes Autism) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.
• STLS for physical difficulties – STLS can be accessed for specific physical difficulties such as hearing impairment, visual impairment or a physical disability such as cerebral palsy.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – school can refer children to CAMHS for concerns such as extreme anxiety, eating disorders and other mental health issues as well as to request ADHD or ASC (Autism) assessments for children over the age of 7, there is usually a very long waiting list for this service.
• Paediatric Consultants – schools can refer to paediatricians where there are concerns over developmental delays or specific conditions such as foetal alcohol syndrome, attachment disorder, or Autism or ADHD in children under the age of 7 years.
• Educational Psychology Services – school can pay for this service if required to help determine a child’s cognitive abilities and barriers to learning, if a child is being considered for an EHCP, they would have an EP assessment as part of the process.
• Early Help (family support) – Early Help can be assessed for parents who request support within the home around behaviour, learning, developing routines etc.
• Virtual Schools Kent – VSK is a service for children who are in care or have previously been in care (see Looked after or adopted children)