The Purpose of the Forum

• to provide consistent and focused decision-making in line with current legislation.
• to work collaboratively and be solution-focused in ensuring children's and young people’s needs are effectively met.
• to inform positive inclusion for all.

What does the Forum look at?

• Requests for EHC Needs Assessments (EHCNA).
• Under 5 Notifications: Initial case discussions for pupils experiencing emotionally-based school non-attendance.

What are the Forum arrangements?

The SEND Forums are held weekly and these are held virtually:

• Wednesday: Primary 
• Thursday: Early Years, Secondary and Post 16

They are chaired by a Locality Manager

• Settings are invited to attend alongside professionals from various sectors within Buckinghamshire, such as education, psychology, health, and social care.
• Before attending a Forum, the settings will have submitted detailed information about the child or young person.
• Settings are invited to attend Forums to provide a summary of the child or young person’s needs and why they are making their request.  We ask them to detail the external advice they have sought and how many hours of support they are providing a pupil.   
• Decisions will be recorded during the Forum on an outcome summary sheet.
• Parents will receive an update from the EHC Co-ordinator 48 hours after outcomes are shared.
• The SEND team will invite SENCOs/a school representative to attend when their cases are at the Forum. If you would like to attend the Forum at any other time, for example, to observe, please let your annual review EHCCO know, and they will send you an invite.