Inclusion and Intervention Support Team (IIST) - WNC

West Northamptonshire Council’s Inclusion and Intervention Support Team (IIST) supports children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0-19 across West Northamptonshire. The team were formerly known as the SEND Support Service (SSS).

Portage and Early Years (0 to 5 Years) Support

Early Years Support for Children:

• From birth to the end of reception year – supporting transition effectively to school

Early Years Support for Parents and Carers:

• Portage home teaching
• Play and development skills
• Advice and signposting
• Advice/guidance is provided at the Family Hubs by the IIST team

Early Years Support for Educational Settings:

• Modelling inclusive practice and interventions
• Providing training
• Support to complete assessments, including the Portage developmental profile
• ‘Moving Forward’ Meetings

The Early Years Offer to Parents, Carers, and Families:

• Step 1: Parents and healthcare professionals can request support via the online form.
• Step 2: A home visit and observation will be arranged to understand the child’s needs better.
• Step 3: Depending on the child’s needs, a practitioner may work with you to demonstrate helpful strategies. In some cases, Portage home teaching may be offered as the most suitable support.
• Step 4: A play assessment may be completed.

Early Years Eligibility:

Whilst there is no longer an eligibility criteria, IIST will ask you to provide evidence of the special educational need, disability, or developmental delay.

Apply for Portage and Early Years Support:

To request support, please complete this online request form - Request Early Years and Portage Support.

• More information about IIST's Portage and Early Years (0 to 5 years) Support

School Age (5-19 years) Support

School Age Support for Children and Young People:

• From Years 1 to 13
• 16 to 19-year-olds can request advice and signposting for themselves

School Age Support for Parents and Carers:

• Advice/guidance is provided at the Family Hubs by the IIST team
• Bookable drop-in sessions in community locations
• Training to mirror school approaches

School Age Support for Educational Settings:

• Linked school approach – every school will have a linked practitioner to support them
• Modelling inclusive practice and interventions
• Providing training
• Moving Forward Meetings

The School Age Offer to Parents, Carers, and Families:

• Drop-in Meetings: These will be provided at SEND parent groups and Family Hub sessions.
• Advice and Guidance Meetings: One-off meetings can be booked once a month via Eventbrite. 
• Parent Workshops Held in Schools: If an offer of work is given or provided in schools, then a knowledge check and/or awareness training can be offered to targeted groups of parents.

School Age Eligibility:

There is no eligibility criteria. Every school in West Northamptonshire has been allocated a linked worker. Schools will have the opportunity to request IIST’s oversight and advice. Parents and carers can book sessions via Eventbrite.

• More information about IIST's School Age (5-19 Years) Support

IIST Contact Details:

• General Enquiries: [email protected]
• Early Years Manager: [email protected] / 07912 891621
• Early Years Manager: [email protected] / 07872 148676
• Early Years Senior Practitioner: [email protected] / 07738 638438
• School Age Manager: [email protected] / 07342 065331
• School Age Senior Practitioner: [email protected] / 07831 123116