This page introduces the Waltham Forest SEND service and includes information about the team, the EHC process, provision and integration. Click on the sections below to find out more.
Referrals to the team can be made by schools, Early Years settings, parents, carers and Young People and Health Notification. You can make a referral by emailing senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk.
The team's core duties consist of EHC needs assessments, attending annual review, professionals meetings, preparing and attending SEND Tribunals, advising schools on exclusions. SEND assessment performance currently at 83% cumulatively, and above target.
SEN queries and requests for reports go to a generic email address, please note this address changes at the end of May 2021 to wfhealthehc@nelft.nhs.uk
Please copy in draft and final EHC plans to this address so they can be uploaded to RIO
The SEN administrators are:
Assistance with travel
(assistance with home to school travel for eligible children in Waltham Forest). Enquiries: assistancewithtravel@walthamforest.gov.uk or on 074 3599 8424
SEN Transport contracts management
Short breaks (0-18yo), direct payments (18-25yo), domiciliary care
Referrals through senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk for more information please call 0208 496 3515
School finance (independent schools and FE colleges)
Data and performance (WF SEND Service)
Occupational Therapy - Referrals through senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk
⦁ Specialist equipment for bathing, seating, toileting, changing and dressing, sleeping
⦁ Equipment to help movement from one place to another and manual handling - hoists and slings
⦁ Adaptations to property such as ramp, through floor stair lifts, level access showers
⦁ Assessment for home safety issues or needs related to behavioural difficulties, for example window locks or stair gates
The EPS is a traded service and has service level agreements with schools, colleges and agencies such as SEND, YOS etc to deliver services such as consultations assessments, staff supervision/training, work with parents.
The team is based at Thorpe, Hall Primary School, 123, Hale End Road.
All requests from SEN to EPS must come via our central email educationalpsychologyservice@walthamforest.gov.uk
The office number is 0208 496 1732.
The team consists of fully qualified and experienced primary (x1) and secondary (x3) teachers and a Higher Level Teaching Assistant.
The SEND and Inclusion provides continuity of education for compulsory school age children (4-16) who are resident in Waltham Forest and:
⦁ unable to attend school for medical reasons (supporting evidence required) for 15 days or more, whether consecutive or cumulative
⦁ a statutory school-age child who is a new mother or a mother to be temporarily unable to attend access education in their registered school
⦁ In-patients (for 15 days or more) on Acorn Ward, Whipps Cross University Hospital
All referrals must be emailed to our central email senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk
NELFT
Services are based a Wood Street Child Development Centre: 6 Linford Road, Walthamstow , E17 3LA, Telephone: 0208 430 7777
Staff at the child development centre include; Specialist Paediatrician’s who provide prevention, identification, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support for children and families. They also carry out a range of statutory duties in relation to child protection, medical advice for special educational needs. They run special clinics including:
Community Children’s nurses: A team of nurses who have experience of working with children with complex health needs.
Audiology: Specialists in hearing problems
Dietician: provides support and advise on food, diet and nutrition
Speech & Language therapists: provide support for speech, language and communication development
Physiotherapists: Work with children to help them with sitting , moving and walking
Occupational therapists: work with children to help them develop everyday skills such as dressing, writing , playing
Child and Adolescent Mental health services (CAMHS): a team of nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists who provide mental health assessment, treatment and support
Commissioning arrangements for health services
Key people to know in the in Health and the Clinical Commissioning Group
⦁ Anna Saunders Integrated Commissioner Adults and Mental Health Anna.Saunders@walthamforest.gov.uk
⦁ Katy Briggs Integrated Commissioner Children’s katy.briggs@nhs.net
⦁ Lynn McBride AD Children’s Integrated Services Lynn.McBride@nelft.nhs.uk
⦁ Sam Illaiee Operational Lead Children’s Services Sam.Illaiee@nelft.nhs.uk
⦁ Cynthia Wood Therapy Lead OT and PT Cynthia.Wood@nelft.nhs.uk
⦁ Louise Parker Speech & Language Clinical Lead Louise.Parker@nelft.nhs.uk
⦁ Shilpa Kanzaria Designated Medical officer Shilpa.Kanzaria@nelft.nhs.uk
⦁ Chris Bright CAMHS transformational lead Chris.Bright@nelft.nhs.uk
⦁ Vikki Monk-Meyer Designated Clinical Officer Vikki.Monk-Meyer@nelft.nhs.uk