Traded offer

Through the SLA, schools and settings will be able to commission Stoke-on-Trent EPS to provide group consultation, either within their single school setting school, Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), or in some circumstances with partner schools.

What is group consultation?

Group consultation is a meeting where SENCos or other teaching or support staff bring individual CYP cases to discuss and engage in group problem-solving with others. Group consultation is led and facilitated by an EP, including contributions to formulating the problem and recommendations for next steps.

How does group consultation take place?  

• Group consultation will be a session which lasts for 3 hours
• Sessions are most effective when attended by between 3-5 participants
• One group consultation session can include a maximum of 3 cases, which are discussed for approximately 45 minutes each

Who will be in my group consultation?

MATs

Schools which are in MATs are encouraged to purchase and attend group consultation jointly. However, there may be need to give consideration of numbers in attendance (see above), with a rota system for SENCOs to join and bring cases in larger MATS. 

Maintained Schools

We suggest that you may want to join together for group consultation with a partner setting that you have an existing relationship with in order to purchase and attend group consultation. Alternatively, if appropriate, the EPS may be able to suggest a geographically neighbouring consultation group that you are able to join. 

Single settings, secondary or special schools

In some instances, it may be preferable for schools to purchase and attend group consultation as a single setting. It is recommended that group consultation within your single setting is attended by multiple stakeholders (e.g. SENCO, subject teachers).

For special schools, group consultation as a single setting may be preferable due to the more specialist requirements of your consultations. 

Secondary schools may wish to purchase and attend group consultation with your primary MAT or linked settings or as a single setting. 

What will I need to do before, during and after group consultation?

Everyone who is bringing a case or problem situation to discuss is expected to fill in a pre-consultation preparation form and email this to Stoke-on-Trent EPS a week before the meeting. 

During the session, time will be allocated for each new case. You will talk through your concern and the EP will facilitate discussions with the other members present. 

As part of the group consultation process, it will be the presenter’s responsibility to complete a group consultation record, including a summary of the discussion, agreed actions and sharing this record/information with the EP, class teacher and parents/carers in a timely manner.