SEND Support Consultations (Solution Circles) – Supporting education settings at Stage 2 of the Graduated Response.

This new video outlining the Solution Circle process has been developed to support staff to familiarise themselves and share this approach with their colleagues.

Please contact [email protected] to book your Solution Circle now as places are filling up fast. We have identified dates in October, November and December and can work with you to identify a suitable time for you and your colleagues.  

Solution Circle video Last academic year staff across SCC services and Health have worked with education settings in delivering 121 Solution Circles supporting education setting staff to plan inclusive ways forward together. Education setting staff have fedback that they particularly value being able to spend time with different professionals that attend the Solution Circles. The process is often commented on, with staff particularly valuing the clear, focused structure as well as the graphic facilitation element. Staff also value the signposting to resources and joint decision making around access to

additional ‘core offer’ support from, for example, Specialist Education Services, Psychology & Therapeutic Services and Activities Unlimited.

Thank you everyone who completed our survey lettings us know how you felt about this collaborative process. We have received overwhelming positive feedback from education setting staff (95% of respondents reported that the process was very or extremely useful).

In line with improvement suggestions we have developed the short video explaining the process. This should help you share what a Solution Circle entails in order to prepare for your Solution Circle. Also some staff have reported that they would like to use this model within their settings, so we hope this video is useful for you too.

Here are some examples of feedback received that exemplify how many people feel about this process.

The Solution Circle was a very supportive and professional experience. The follow up email and paperwork were very useful, and my link colleague got in contact quickly. I am very confident that the professional’s contribution will make a difference – one strategy is already having a positive impact.

A really productive and helpful experience. I don’t think I can think of any other time when there have been so many professionals collaborating ideas to provide solutions for a pupil! Refreshingly forward thinking. Thank you to you and everyone for your support.

It’s amazing to be able to draw on the expertise of the services involved in the Circle in a short period of time. The process feels very constructive, proactive and positive and gives clear next steps for us to take as a school. It’s also reassuring for all staff to know the strategies we are using and have implemented are valuable.

Thank you to all our colleagues and staff in education settings for supporting and taking part in this powerful collaborative, solution-oriented process in order to strengthen inclusion and inclusive practice, supporting children and young people across Suffolk.

Claire Darwin and Izzy Connell