Make a Referral to the INclude Service
How to refer a child or young person to the INclude service
A referral to INclude Targeted Intervention should be considered when a child or young person continues to experience significant barriers to inclusion, participation and engagement despite the school's efforts to understand need, implement adaptations, and provide targeted support from within its own resources.
Prior to referral, schools should be able to demonstrate that they have:
- Implemented and reviewed appropriate support through Steps 1 and 2 of the Inclusion Framework.
- Worked collaboratively with the child or young person, their family, and relevant staff to understand strengths, needs, and barriers to inclusion, participation and engagement.
- Used an assess-plan-do-review approach to evaluate the impact of interventions and adaptations.
- Considered and accessed consultation opportunities where appropriate.
- Identified ongoing concerns that require additional specialist education support to strengthen the school's response.
INclude Targeted Intervention is designed to provide the right support at the right time. It is important to recognise that INclude is not solely intended for children and young people at immediate risk of permanent exclusion. Referrals may be appropriate where there are growing concerns regarding a pupil's longer-term inclusion, participation, engagement or placement stability.
A referral may be appropriate where one or more of the following apply:
- A child or young person continues to experience barriers to inclusion, participation and engagement despite targeted school-based support and intervention.
- The school requires additional specialist support to better understand and respond to identified needs.
- There are persistent barriers to learning, participation, attendance, wellbeing, behaviour, or engagement.
- Progress remains limited despite appropriate interventions and adaptations.
- There are concerns regarding the sustainability of a pupil's placement if barriers to inclusion, participation and engagement are not better understood and addressed.
- The child or young person is showing signs of increasing vulnerability to exclusion, placement instability, or disengagement from education.
- The school would benefit from specialist support to strengthen inclusive practice around an individual child or young person.
INclude Targeted Intervention provides specialist education support to help schools, children, young people and families develop a deeper understanding of need and identify effective approaches to improve outcomes.
Support is planned collaboratively through a Partnership Planning Meeting, where outcomes are agreed and the most appropriate support is identified based on the individual needs of the child or young person.
Intervention is delivered through three broad areas:
Developing Practice
Supporting schools to strengthen inclusive practice, build staff confidence, and develop approaches that better meet the needs of children and young people.
Assessing and Planning
Gathering information, exploring barriers to inclusion, participation and engagement, and supporting schools, children, young people and families to develop a shared understanding of need and effective plans for support.
Direct Support for the Child or Young Person
Targeted work with children and young people to address identified barriers, promote inclusion, participation and engagement, and support positive outcomes.
Support is delivered by the most appropriate professional, or combination of professionals, depending on the needs identified through the referral and Partnership Planning process. As a result, the practitioners involved may vary from case to case to ensure that children, young people and schools receive the most relevant and effective support.
The aim of INclude Targeted Intervention is to strengthen inclusion, build school capacity, and support children and young people to remain successfully engaged in education.
Referrals can only be made by schools.
1. Complete a Step 3 - Targeted Intervention DASH referral
2. E-mail the completed referral and supporting documentation to:
include.referral@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Please attach the following compulsory document:
- A current or recently prepared HLN Funding Bid
Where applicable, schools should also include:
- Risk Assessment
- Individual Handling Plan
Downloads
Important Information
Submitting a copy of an HLN Funding Bid as part of an INclude referral does not constitute a formal application for HLN funding.
Schools wishing to apply for HLN funding must continue to follow the usual HLN application process separately.
- Schools must seek parental/carer consent before applying.
- INclude Service Privacy Notice
All referrals are reviewed through the INclude triage process. This enables the service to consider the information provided and identify the most appropriate next steps.
Outcomes may include:
- Progression to a Partnership Planning Meeting
- Advice and guidance regarding alternative support pathways
- Signposting to another service where this is considered more appropriate
