Specialist Education Advice & Outreach Service

Fordwater School has been a driving force behind a collaborative new West Sussex SEND initiative called SEAOS.

The Specialist Education Advice and Outreach Service (SEAOS) has been set up by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and led by special schools across West Sussex working to develop outreach support to help mainstream schools improve outcomes for our children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) alongside the Specialist Advisory Teachers (SATS).

The support from SEAOS aims to build on a coaching/mentoring model to build professional, positive relationships between special schools and our mainstream colleagues, sharing good practice, working together to find solutions and signposting to resources which may be of use. Schools are directed to other West Sussex Advisory Services and signposted to SEAOS handouts, workshops and network meetings where appropriate.

SEAOS covers the whole of West Sussex and is geographically split into 3 hubs as shown on the map below. Hub 1 is lead by Natalie Lambert from Fordwater School working in collaboration with Ruth Aspden, Sally Kayworth and Linda Appleton from St Anthony’s School.

SEAOS is formed of 3 phases detailed below:

Phase 1: Support for pupils in transition years (Year R and Year 7) who are identified by SENAT as needing a Special School place but currently have a place in a mainstream setting.

Phase 2:  Workshops run by SEAOS to support mainstream settings with delivering areas of the EHCP for SEN pupils as well as offering Special School visits and networking with other Specialist Advisory Teachers.

Hub 1 have held 3 highly successful workshops on Sensory and Physical, Communication and Interaction and Cognition and Learning areas of the EHCP. These workshops have been attended by 30-50 mainstream school colleagues. We are currently planning our final workshop this year with the focus on Social, Emotional and Mental Health workshop which is booked for 11^th June 4-6pm at St Anthony’s School.

Phase 3: Phone consultations which offer an opportunity for any mainstream member of staff to book a 20 minute TEAMS call (having notified either the SENCO or member of Senior Leadership from their mainstream school prior to the phone call taking place) for a professional conversation with an experienced SEN Outreach teacher who can help with many areas of need, drawing on their expertise, experience and knowledge from working in a special school setting. Pilot starting Summer Term 2026, see attached poster with links and QR codes to the phone consultation application form.

For further information please email natalie.lambert@fordwatersch.co.uk

SEAOS Phase 3 Information