School SENCOs

Guidance and links to useful documents related to the SENCO role.

Additional needs plan

Additional needs plans are for:

pupils with SEND who are falling behind
looked-after children
those who have previous exclusions

Time-limited Inclusion Grant (TIG)

This grant helps schools fund short-term intervention that:

does not require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
can be met by the school, working with support services
exceeds the notional SEN budget (or targeted funding in early years)

This guidance explains when an application is appropriate and how to apply:

Time-limited Inclusion Grant (TIG) guidance [168.0 KB] [pdf]

Time-limited Inclusion Grant (TIG) application form [80.4 KB] [docx]

Time-limited Inclusion Grant (TIG) group application form [83.0 KB] [docx]

Please note that the time frame for submitting a TIG application is 10 working days.

Due to current demand, applications will be limited to a maximum of 12 per panel. This is to ensure adequate reading time for the panel and ensure that informed decisions are made on the day of the panel.

Applications will be on a ‘first come first served’ basis and an application may need to be put back to the next panel date if there are more than 12 applications received.

The dates for the panel meetings for 2025-2026 are listed below:

23 September
21 October
18 November
15 December
27 January
24 February
17 March
21 April
19 May
16 June
14 July

Identification of SEND

Guidance for identification of SEND in schools [194.0 KB] [docx]

Support for all - guide for staff and families

This guide outlines the provision that should be available to all children and young people. It covers maintained schools, academies, free schools, early years and post-16 providers.

The expectations on all settings in East Sussex | East Sussex Local Offer

The SENCO role

SENCOs and their line managers

Effective SENCO deployment

A guide for SENCOs and their managers which was created by experienced SENCOs in primary and secondary. It helps line managers support SENCOs to enable more children with SEND to thrive in school.

SEND policy and information updates

Best practice for SEND information [1.0 MB] [docx]

Advice and best practice examples to support SENCOs and Inclusion Leads updating their:

SEND policy
SEN information report
Local Offer
Accessibility information

2023 Inclusion Conference Resources

Inclusion conference agenda [44.3 KB] [docx]
A sense of belonging for children in care [787.8 KB] [pptx]
Creating a sense of belonging for successful transition into secondary school [742.7 KB] [pptx]
EBSA presentation [1.2 MB] [pptx]
Keynote - youth participation [14.1 MB] [pptx]
Inclusion conference - mentimeter [303.5 KB] [docx]
School adjustments to support EBSA [31.0 KB] [docx]
Supporting LGBT+ children and young people [10.5 MB] [pptx]
Thinking about a school dog - CLASS [44.6 MB] [pptx]
Positive relational change – Video interaction guidance [18.0 MB] [pptx]

Graduated Response Evaluation Group (GREG)

GREG can provide advice on the Graduated Approach demonstrated in school paperwork, at any point prior to a request for an EHC Needs Assessment (EHC NA) being submitted.

Where a SENCO feels that a child or young person has had a graduated approach to meeting their needs in place, GREG is able to receive bundles from schools to review and feedback.

GREG is currently for school-aged children only.

We have created the GREG guidance [576.8 KB] [docx] to support SENCOs with this process.

SENCOs are warmly welcomed to attend GREG meetings, whether they have sent in a case to GREG or not.

GREG Dates for 2025-26:

Date of GREG meeting	Deadline for asking to join this meeting
9 September 2025	29 August
30 September 2025	19 September
21 October 2025	10 October
18 November 2025	7 November
9 December 2025	28 November
13 January 2026	2 January
3 February 2026	23 January
3 March 2026	20 February
24 March 2026	13 March
28 April 2026	17 April
19 May 2026	8 May
16 June 2026	5 June
14 July 2026	3 July