Local Offer - Specialist Education Support Services

The role of the Attendance and Pupil Welfare Service (APWS) is to: Advise and support Families, children and Schools to ensure that all children receive an education by regular attendance at school or otherwise. Work with home educating families and services to offer support and advice Identify children missing education and ensure their re-engagement with education. Ensure that child employment and performance is undertaken within the requirements of the legislation.

• T: 01302 736504 
• E: welfare.service@doncaster.gov.uk
• W: Attendance and Pupil Welfare Service

ASCETS work with schools, children and their families to support the improvement of learning outcomes particularly where they have autism and social communication needs. ASCETS work primarily with children from the age of 5 years old when they start attending in Y1, up to the age of 25 when young people could still be accessing college. This work is focused on the ways in which we can contribute to the assessment, planning, delivery and review of pupils’ achievement and progress, particularly through SEN support plans or other targeted plans run by schools with pupils and families where there are autism  and social communication needs. Children who are younger than this are supported by the Pre-school Inclusion Team (PSIT) that works with Private, Voluntary and Independent settings as well as maintained nurseries (from September 2016) - this is inclusive of children who may have a diagnosis of autism or social communication needs. Please see the early years offer for SEND for further details on PSIT.

The service supports schools in developing robust provision for pupils with Autism and Social Communication Difficulties through the Doncaster Autism Charter Mark, a set of quality-assured standards which schools can achieve for consistently good or outstanding practice.

ASCETS consists of specialist teachers and  specialist support officers whose work is mainly focused through the ways they can contribute to the support plans run by schools. Please talk to your school about how the ASCETS team might become involved in contributing to your child’s planned support to improve learning outcomes. For a general enquiry about our services please call 01302 734838 or email the service manager at david.dickinson@doncaster.gov.uk. 

Starting Off

Summer term 2018 saw the launch of a new parenting workshop called ‘Starting Off’, designed and delivered in partnership between our own ASCETS team and the Autism Spectrum Assessment team at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. 

Starting Off is a free 2 day course designed for parents of children recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The course is available on a monthly basis during term-time. Early evaluations of the workshops have been highly positive, with parents feeling much more confident in their understanding of the implications of an autism diagnosis. The workshops are designed to complement the range of other on-going parent support which ASCETS provide for parents of children with Autism and associated Social Communication Difficulties.

For more information about Autism Parenting support and to book on to a course, please contact call 01302 734838. Alternatively you can speak to the SENCo at your child's school who can make a referral on your behalf. 

Starting Off Information Leaflet May - July 19

Download (95KB - PDF)

We work with primary schools, children and families in an outreach capacity. We work alongside schools to support children, aged 5-11,  who may be experiencing behaviour difficulties or have an unmet or identified social, emotional mental health need (SEMH).

Our team vision is to enhance and empower the circle of support for Doncaster children, inspiring them to become the best version of themselves.

Our service includes:

• Specialist support advice and guidance to schools specifically around supporting children with behaviour and SEMH needs.
• Bespoke pieces of work with children to support them in their mainstream setting either as one to one or in a small group capacity.
• We work collaboratively with families, schools and other agencies to create, monitor and deliver bespoke support plans for children with behaviour or SEMH needs.
• Training offer for schools e.g. Midday supervisor training, therapeutic approaches etc.
• Family support which may include direct work with families or delivery of parenting support courses e.g. Family Links.
• Transition support for children moving through key stages e.g. Year 6 to Year 7.

The service can be accessed by schools referring children for outreach support. If you feel your child may benefit from our services, please contact your school in the first instance.

The services works with children, parents, schools, pre-school providers, other education settings and health and care agencies to apply the principles of the SEN Code of Practice to:

• help children and young people to improve their learning and to achieve the best they can in life 
• promote the inclusion of all children and young people in the life of their school and in the local community 

T:01302 737291
W: Educational Psychology Service

Does your child or you have special educational needs and is/are under the age of 25? Our SENDIAS service can provide independent information, guidance and support for parents / carers of children with any level of special educational needs and/or disabilities. We also provide support for young people up to 25 who have disabilities.

The best results can be achieved if parents, carers, teachers and others involved with you or your child can work together to make a difference to your child's education and the lives of young people. We work together with partners to give parents/carers and young people the information you need to achieve the best possible future for you or your children.

• T: 01302 736920 
• W: SENDIAS
• E: sendias@doncaster.gov.uk

The Participation and Transition Service aims to ensure suitable Post 16 provision and support for young people to continue and progress into learning.

• T: 01302 862150 
• E: pats@doncaster.gov.uk
• W: Participation and Transition Service

The SCHI (Service for Children with a Hearing Impairment) strives to enable pupils who are Deaf or who have a Hearing Impairment to achieve their true educational potential by providing the highest quality support, to address their learning needs arising as a result of their hearing loss, in partnership with pupils, parents, educational settings, social care and health.

The SCHI will help promote a culture where pupils with a hearing impairment are included in all aspects of school life and are given equal educational opportunities to realise their full potential. 

For further information, advice and guidance visit the website below or alternatively contact Sarah Barton.

• E: sarah.barton@doncaster.gov.uk
• W: Service for Children with a Hearing Impairment

HI Referral Form

Download (224KB - DOC)

PHIG Newsletter

Download (233KB - PDF)

The Service for Children with a Visual Impairment (SCVI) has three main aims:

• Maximise access to the curriculum
• Support children, young people and their families to understand and manage their Visual Impairment 
• Maximise independence in preparation for leaving secondary education 

Click button below for more information on the service for children with a visual impairment. 

More Information

 Contact Information

Amanda Kataryna (BSc, QTS, QTVI)
Lead Teacher
Doncaster Services for Children
with Vision Impairment
07920 283550
01302 734838

E: Amanda.Kataryna@doncaster.gov.uk   

A: SEND/VI, Floor 3, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU 

Please be aware that this is a term time only service, we will endeavor to respond as soon as possible. 

Consent and Referral Form

Download (222KB - DOC)

If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan and you wish to apply for school admissions, you should contact the Special Educational Needs team.

The service aims to provide a range of educational opportunities and additional resources for children with Special Educational Needs to enable the child's needs to be met in an inclusive setting.

• T: 01302 737209, 737210 or 737211 
• E: sen@doncaster.gov.uk
• W: SEN Service and FAQ's from the SEND Code of Practice