Graduated Support Pathway

The Graduated Pathway

Where concerns are raised that a child may not be making expected progress in their learning, schools are expected to intervene early to implement appropriate and effective support to overcome the barriers to learning. This SEN support should take the form of a four-part cycle: Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR), to develop a growing understanding of the pupils’ needs and identify what support is required to ensure the pupil secures good outcomes and makes good progress. This is known as the ‘Graduated Approach’.

The SEND Code of Practice specifies that it's for schools to provide high quality appropriate support from the resources they have available to them, including the amount identified in the notional SEN budget. If a child at SEN Support requires additional targeted intervention that exceeds this amount, Shropshire schools can request additional funding through the Graduated Support Pathway. 

GSP funding provides schools with the opportunity to be more flexible in how pupil support is best delivered and a range of interventions can be considered. GSP funding should usually be seen as a short-term measure to target a particular area of need or support a child or young person with higher-level needs prior to an education, health and care needs assessment. Parents and carers must be fully involved and agree the GSP plan in partnership with schools.

Prior to submitting a request for GSP funding, schools should demonstrate that they've implemented the expectations for SEN support as detailed in chapter 6 of the SEND Code of Practice. This will be evidenced through the completion of successive cycles of the graduated approach (APDR). Schools will be recording this through their person-centred plans (may be known by another name, ILP, IEP etc).

What documents do I need to send with my GSP request?

• Appropriately signed request form
• Pupil Centred Plan /APDR (minimum of 2 cycles, school/setting’s own format will be accepted) – must have been reviewed
• Pupil Centred Plan and Review (GSP) outlining proposed targets and provision going forward:  Blue section: mandatory for new requests and Orange section: mandatory for repeat requests

• A costed provision map - this identifies the specific support and provision to be implemented (including duration and frequency), and the cost of this provision
• One page profile – school/setting’s own format will be accepted
• Individual behaviour support plan (If applicable)
• Early help assessment (If applicable)
• If the CYP is in receipt of Pupil Premium, clear evidence of how this funding is being used to meet identified needs.
• Evidence of outside agency involvement as part of graduated response – include any available reports

More detailed information is available in the 'GSP Guidance' document.

When does GSP panel take place?

The table below shows the upcoming panel dates and the request submission deadline.  Any requests received after the submission deadline will be moved to the following month's panel.

Where do I send my GSP request?

Please complete the summary sheet and upload to the GSP folder in the Shropshire SEND Portal, along with all necessary reports and supporting evidence.   Please remember to add a folder within the GSP folder with the child's name on it and then add the documents to the child's folder.  If you need assistance with the Shropshire SEND Portal please email EHCPTeam@shropshire.gov.uk 

Who should I contact if I have a query?

Please email EQA@shropshire.gov.uk