To further strengthen the support available at the SEND Support stage, a new approach is being introduced: the SEND Support Advisory Partnership (SSAP).
SSAP is a multi-agency group that provides advice, resources, and, where appropriate, additional funding to help schools meet pupils’ SEND needs earlier and more effectively.
Through SSAP:
- Schools can seek expert advice and problem-solving support.
- Funding or commissioned services can be provided where the setting’s resources have been exhausted or where additional provision is needed beyond ordinarily available support.
- Multi-disciplinary discussions (education, health, and care) ensure a holistic approach to meeting needs.
Referrals to SSAP are made by schools and may also follow recommendations from other panels, such as SEND Panel or Early Help Panel, particularly where a request for an EHCNA has not been agreed.
The aim of SSAP is to:
- Help schools meet more needs at the SEND Support stage.
- Reduce the need for formal EHCNAs where possible.
- Provide early, targeted, and sustainable interventions.
Following a referral to SSAP, outcomes could include:
- An action plan for the school to implement
- Access to external services (e.g., therapies, outreach support)
- Additional funding for specified interventions
- Signposting to other relevant support
- No further action if appropriate
SSAP is currently being piloted with selected schools, with a planned borough-wide rollout from Autumn 2025.
When Might an EHCP Be Needed?
While most needs can be met through a combination of SEND Support Plans and (where necessary) SSAP support, some children have more complex needs requiring a higher level of provision.
An Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) may be requested when:
- Needs are particularly severe or unusual
- Provision required goes significantly beyond what schools can provide from their existing resources
If agreed, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be issued to formally detail the child’s needs and the support they must receive.
Future Directions
The development of the SEND Support Advisory Partnership (SSAP) represents an important step in strengthening early intervention and building a sustainable SEND support system.
Over time, it is hoped that:
- Fewer pupils will require statutory EHC plans for lower-level needs
- More pupils will have their needs effectively met earlier
- SEND resources can be deployed more strategically and fairly
In Summary
Most children and young people with SEND will have their needs met effectively through ordinarily available provision, SEND Support Plans, and, where needed, additional support through SSAP. Only a small number will require an EHCP to access a higher level of specialist provision.
Early help, high-quality support, and working together remain the foundations of excellent SEND provision.