The Primary Inclusion Panel (PIP) replaces the Primary FAP. It is set up to support both Primary and Secondary schools with pupils whose behaviour challenges and puts them at risk of permanent exclusion.
Lambeth uses the Gateway form for Behaviour and Inclusion support.
This will allow schools to follow the three-tier approach enabling them to access timely support and resources. Primary and Secondary schools in Lambeth can make a referral to the panel for consideration for:
Tier 1
School support from our Outreach teams for an individual pupil, a group of pupils or for staff development.
Tier 2
Short-term placements at an Alternative Educational Provision (AEP) for pupils with or without an EHCP.
Tier 3
Placement for a Primary pupil in a mainstream school on a dual registered basis to prevent a permanent exclusion. (Tier 3 referrals for Secondary students will be considered via the Secondary Inclusion Panel) .
Referral process
To make a referral complete the Gateway form and by submit the additional requested paperwork.
Complete the Gateway referral form
Please direct any queries to inclusionpanel@lambeth.gov.uk.
If you would like to discuss a pupil's case before you make the referral, please contact the Behaviour and Inclusion Consultant Betsy Hall: bhall@lambeth.gov.uk.
About the panel
The panel will meet fortnightly. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair in conjunction with named officers of the council may be required to make decisions outside of panel meetings.
These cases will be considered on an emergency basis and will be minuted and ratified at the next appropriate full panel.
Who is on the panel
Core membership will include LA representatives from:
- Inclusion
- Early Years
- Social Care/Early Help
- Area SENCo Team
- Early Years Consultant
- Education Welfare Service
- SEN
- Behaviour and SEMH Advisors.
Other practitioners and case workers will attend at the invitation of the Chair.
Where practitioners are not required to attend, a written report on specific cases may be requested.
The panel will be chaired by the Behaviour and Inclusion Consultant.
Criteria for referrals
The pupil must:
- attend a Lambeth school
- be a Lambeth resident
- be of statutory school age (4-16 years old).
The referring school must demonstrate the initial steps already taken to support the young person as part of their graduated response.
Suitable referrals
Once the referral has been made to the panel and discussions have been held at the full panel meeting, a decision will be made about the suitability of the referral.
For Tiers 1 and 2, suitable referrals will have provided evidence that:
- the pupil's behaviour has been unresponsive to the usual range of interventions to help address the pupil’s difficulties
- the severity, frequency or duration of that behaviour is beyond the normal range that schools can tolerate
- the pupil's behaviour significantly interferes with the education of their peers or jeopardises the right of staff and pupils to be safe and work in an orderly environment.
For Tier 2 referrals, before making a decision panel will consider:
- whether the pupil is demonstrating sustained behaviour that puts the child, other children or adults at risk
- the school’s ability to mitigate the risk presented
- the risk of keeping the pupil in school and whether this is greater than the risk of moving the pupil.
Actions arising from the panel
If, after consideration, the panel decides that the case meets the threshold for Tier 1 support, they will be able to allocate support from the following services:
- Behaviour Outreach Team
- Area SENCo Team
- Autism Advisory Service
- Early years Consultant
- Education Welfare Service (EWS).
They will also be able to:
- agree actions to be taken forward by a named officer of the local authority
- arrange a one-off home visit by an Education Welfare Service
- ensure where appropriate that links and actions are made to Children’s Social Care
- agree to the implementation of School Attendance Order proceedings.
If the referral meets threshold for a Tier 2 short term placement and there are vacancies, the panel can agree to a referral to Evolve Academy or an SEMH Resource Base utilising a Lambeth commissioned place therefore enabling a reduced price to schools.
Whilst on the placement the pupil will remain dual-registered, and the placement will not be for longer than 12 weeks with a review in week 6.
The Behaviour and SEMH Advisory Team will work with mainstream schools, families and the AEP to facilitate the pupil’s reintegration following a Tier 2 short-term placement.
Additional funding
We are currently piloting Exceptional Needs Grant funding (ENG) for Tier 1 and Tier 2 referrals.
Tier 1 ENG funding may be allocated to a school to provide short-term intensive support for a child or young person following a discussion and initial consultation with the school.
At Tier 2, ENG funding will be allocated to pupils who are reintegrating back into a mainstream school following an intervention placement at an Alternative Education Provision (AEP).
For children with long-term SEN and who do not present with behaviour that challenges, schools should apply for additional funding through the SEN Support ENG route.
You can find more information about this in the Local Offer.