Supporting pupils with physical difficulties

The role of the Birmingham Outreach Service is to support pupils in mainstream nursery, primary and secondary placements, in line with the Code of Practice for SEN.  Pupils with physical difficulties are the focus of the service.

The Service is based at the three schools for pupils with physical difficulties – Brays in Sheldon, Victoria in Northfield and Wilson Stuart in Erdington.

Birmingham Outreach Service began in 1986, because the Headteachers of these three schools were aware that more parents were asking for mainstream placements in school, for their children.

To ensure delivery of a fully integrated service, we work closely with Wilson Stuart Outreach Service.

Mission Statement

• To implement Birmingham's policies with regard to inclusive practices and entitlement for pupils with physical disabilities, through the provision of a Unified Outreach Service to all schools.

Aims of the Service

• To facilitate the education of pupils across all phases who have motor difficulties or physical disabilities within a mainstream setting.
  
  

• To provide advice and support to schools and to the LEA on all aspects of physical disabilities.
  
  
• To provide advice and support to schools and the LEA on building and environmental adaptations to schools, to enable them to improve access for all users.
  
  
• To work with colleagues in schools, parents /carers and other support services to implement the SEN Code of Practice.

Referrals

• Are made by schools for individual pupils to the appropriate Outreach Service.
  
  

• Parents / Carers must consent to the referral and sign the form accordingly.
  
  
• The form asks for personal details about the pupil, information relating to medical diagnosis and causes for concern and a copy of the current Individual Educational Plan (IEP).
  
  
• On receipt of the referral form a member of the appropriate Outreach Team will arrange a visit to the school, to meet the pupil and/or undertake assessments.
  
  
• This is followed by liaison with school staff concerning the appropriate types and levels of support, resource implications etc.
  
  
• Pupils may require single visits, continuing or long term input from the Service.

In Service Training

Schools are entitled to free training on all aspects relating to pupils within the school who are supported by Birmingham Outreach Service.

If the school wishes to request additional training sessions that are linked to issues that are non-specific to individual pupils charges are made. Schools should approach the Outreach Team in their area to discuss training packages.

Contacts

Please contact us if you have enquiries about general or specific issues. We also welcome any comments and suggestions for developing our service.

• Lucie Danyi
  Central/East Area Outreach Co-ordinator
  Brays School, Brays Road,
  Sheldon, Birmingham B26 1NS
  lucie.danyi@brays.bham.sch.uk
  
  

• Maggie Kelly
  South Area Outreach Co-ordinator
  Victoria School, Bell Hill
  Northfield, Birmingham B31 1LD
  maggie.kelly@victoria.bham.sch.uk
  
  
• Nicky Muncey
  North Area Outreach Co-ordinator
  Wilson Stuart School, Perry Common Road
  Erdington, Birmingham B23 7AT
  nicky@wilsonst.bham.sch.uk