Swift and Easy Referral

Children and young people need to access a range of specialist services at different times to support their general well-being and their ability to learn.

Children’s centres and schools have experience of working closely in partnership with these organisations and have expertise of referral of pupils in need.

Over the next few years it is expected that support services will be reconfigured to provide earlier, more coherent support to meet the needs of children and families in convenient locations. Schools, the local authority and support services and agencies should have a focus on (and clear processes to support) early identification  of, and support and intervention for, children with behavioural, emotional, health or other difficulties.

Some support services may be situated and delivered on school sites as it is the one continuous and secure element in many children’s lives.

It is expected that swift and easy referral will:

• Enhance support for vulnerable children and those at risk
• Provide help to staff and parents to address the children's wider needs
• Eradicate that the possibility of problems getting worse due to delay
• Encourage and enable improved communication between agencies

Schools should:

• Ensure that they have effective arrangements to identify pupils in need of support in a non-stigmatising way and review them to assess impact
• Consider how services offered by partners can contribute to other parts of the core offer and the curriculum
• Signpost adults to services which are directly accessible where there is an obvious need and a willingness to receive services.
• Ensure staff are aware of, and carrying out their legal responsibilities
• Ensure any school commissioning of services is consistent with local priorities
• Work with children's trust partners on preventative work e.g parenting support
• Help young people to access support directly where appropriate e.g drop-in provision and provide in-school support where necessary
• Identify a named individual for each case. Agree time frames for referral and communicate these to children and parents

Case Studies

For case studies of schools who are currently providing services relating to Swift & Easy Referral, please open the following link: Schools Core Offers: Online Case Studies Resource

Useful Links 

• http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/socialandpastoral/sebs1/seal
  Social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) - SEAL offers a whole-curriculum framework for teaching social, emotional and behavioural skills to all children and is organised into seven themes which can be covered within a school year. The DCSF resources are designed for primary aged children.
• http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/banda/familyseal
  Family SEAL - this is designed to make explicit links between the support parents and carers provide the children when they are developing the social, emotional and behavioural skills and school based work. It is part of the attendance and behavioural pilot in primary schools.
• http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying
  Bullying - don't suffer in Silence website provides guidance and resources for teachers, parents and pupils.
• http://www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk
  Drugs, alcohol and tobacco - The Wird for Health website provides useful information, curriculum support and sections on a range of health topics including drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
• http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk  
  Parents website - information for parents with external links to useful websites
• http://www.dfes.gov.uk/youngpeople
  Young peoples gateway - DCSF website for young people providing links to other sites, advice and guidance