Referral Information

Children may attend or be supported by one of our alternative provisions following a request for support. The Primary Alternative Provision Panel (PAPP) is the referral route to the existing alternative education provisions in North East and Mid Essex. This panel will meet up each half term.

The panel will consist of senior leaders from NEECA, GROW, representatives from the SEND quadrant team and primary head teachers from the quadrant. The purpose of this panel will be:

  • to ensure the effective use of alternative provision places in the north-east and mid-Essex, by ensuring a transparent and rigorous request for support process involving a consensus of opinion between the provisions, other professionals and the Local Authority.
  • to increase the capacity and ability of primary school staff to assess, understand and work effectively with their pupils by offering advice and signposting schools to appropriate support.

  • to smoothly transition children to a setting that is best suited to their individual needs which could be their own school, another mainstream school, a specialist hub or setting within agreed timescales.

The alternative provisions work in partnerships and are based across a number of sites. Children are placed at different provisions according to their referral route and level of need.

Children that are offered a place following a request for support will attend either NEECA in Colchester or one of the GROW provisions.

  • GROW Clacton: based at Whitehall Academy
  • GROW North Colchester: based at Braiswick Primary
  • GROW South Colchester: based at Monkwick Primary
  • GROW Chelmsford: based at Newland Spring Primary
  • GROW Braintree: based at Lyons Hall Academy
  • GROW Harlow based at Cooks Spinney

 

Note

It is not expected that pupils with EHCPs will be referred to the PAPP unless there is a clear and time limited piece of work identified to be undertaken with the child.  Any such referral must have support from the quadrant statutory assessment team.

The Panel does not replace or change the referral process for any other service i.e. the EP Service, Specialist Teacher Team or the Statutory Assessment Service. 

 

Requesting Support for Alternative Provision

If you think alternative provision is an appropriate next step then you must complete a  Request for Support form and have agreement from parents/carers/social care.

Please send the completed form for MID and NORTH Essex to  primaryaThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please send the completed form for WEST (Harlow) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Please ensure that all information is transferred securely.

Completed requests for support (including the signed parental consent section) must be sent to the appropriate address before the PAPP for it to be heard at that meeting. The dates for these meetings are: 

Mid and Northeast 

Autumn 1

Requests deadline 12:00p.m – 22nd September 2023

  • 10th October 2023

 

Autumn 2

Requests deadline 12:00p.m – 17th November 2023

  • 5th December 2023

 

Spring 1

Requests deadline 12:00p.m – 19th January 2024

  • 6th February 2024

 

Spring 2

Requests deadline 12:00p.m – 1st March 2024

  • 19th March 2024

 

 

Summer 1

Requests deadline 12:00p.m – 20th April 2024

  • 14th May 2024

 

Summer 2

Requests deadline 12:00p.m – 25th May 2024

  • 18th June 2024

 

Note

A child will not be offered a place at GROW if they are undergoing a Statutory Assessment for an EHCP. The place can only be offered once the plan is finalised.