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SEND Master Operational Framework

Ten operational toolkits across three tracks: governance and finance, teaching and interventions, and data, integration and people. Fill them in here, then print or save as PDF.

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The SEND Accountability Project Ltd · SEND Family Hub · thesendaccountabilityproject.online · director@thesendaccountabilityproject.online · datalead@thesendaccountabilityproject.online · ICO Registration: ZC252093 · Company Number: 17420678 · Supporting schools, families and professionals through practical SEND resources, toolkits and insights.

THE SEND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT

TOOLKIT 3

SEND Master Operational Framework

Policy directive and ten operational toolkits

Deep Blue: Governance & Finance Architecture

Teal: Teaching, Interventions & Pathways

Slate Grey: Data, Integration & People Hubs

The SEND Accountability Project Ltd
Supporting schools, families and professionals through practical SEND resources, toolkits and insights.

Executive purpose

This framework sets an operational baseline for SEND governance, resource management and teaching practice. It aims to move from reactive SEND support to a data-informed, legally secure approach that narrows attainment gaps, safeguards funding and maximises pupil progress.

Keep the framework text as it is so results can be compared across departments and partner schools. Add your local data, Local Offer contacts and branding, and record any local changes in the Local Improvements and Versions Log at the end.

Deep Blue track
Governance & Finance Architecture
Teal track
Teaching, Interventions & Pathways
Slate Grey track
Data, Integration & People Hubs

Pupil and family details are replaced with reference codes. Never enter names.

Governance, Compliance & Statutory Alignment

Track 1: Governance & Finance Architecture

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Standardises the accountability ladder linking the Board of Governors, the Headteacher and executive leadership, and the SENDCO. The SEND Information Report is treated as a live compliance document that reduces legal risk.
Target metrics & KPIs: 100% compliance on statutory annual review windows; zero breaches of EHCP legal delivery timelines.
Governance action requirements: The governing body audits the Compliance Risk Register at the start of every term. High-risk areas (such as delayed external assessments) are flagged to the local authority's statutory team with a clear timeline for remediation.

Compliance risk register

Row 1
Statutory requirementSEND Information Report
Responsible officer (role)
Last review
Next due
Status, row 1
Identified risk / action required
Row 2
Statutory requirementAccessibility Plan
Responsible officer (role)
Last review
Next due
Status, row 2
Identified risk / action required
Row 3
Statutory requirementEHCP Annual Reviews
Responsible officer (role)
Last review
Next due
Status, row 3
Identified risk / action required

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Provision Mapping & Resource Optimisation

Track 1: Governance & Finance Architecture

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Removes duplicated provision and resource mismatches. Tracks interventions against groups of pupils so you can show inspectors and the local authority that budgets are used efficiently and support follows impact.
Target metrics & KPIs: 0% variance between allocated and delivered support hours; intervention cost-efficiency improves term on term.
Governance action requirements: The SENDCO and School Business Manager cross-check this planner monthly against staffing to confirm Teaching Assistant time matches documented intervention plans.

Provision map

Row 1
Intervention nameSpeech Link
Target pupil group (no names)
Support tier, row 1
Staff role assigned
Weekly hours
Hourly cost (£)
Total weekly cost (£)
Row 2
Intervention nameSensory Circuit
Target pupil group (no names)
Support tier, row 2
Staff role assigned
Weekly hours
Hourly cost (£)
Total weekly cost (£)

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Funding Architecture, High-Needs Block & Banding

Track 1: Governance & Finance Architecture

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Tracks and justifies SEND funding: Element 1 (core place funding), Element 2 (notional SEND funding, up to £6,000) and Element 3 (local authority high-needs top-up).
Target metrics & KPIs: Zero deficit variance on the notional SEND budget line; 100% reconciliation of Element 3 claims submitted to the local authority.
Governance action requirements: Review monthly with the School Business Manager. Keep pupil-level lines pseudonymised.

Funding tracker

Row 1
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Primary need
Element 1 (£)
Element 2 (£)
Element 3 LA (£)
Total budget (£)
Monthly spend (£)
Row 2
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Primary need
Element 1 (£)
Element 2 (£)
Element 3 LA (£)
Total budget (£)
Monthly spend (£)

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Universal High-Quality Inclusive Teaching (Wave 1)

Track 2: Teaching, Interventions & Pathways

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: A practical, objective way for teachers to deliver adaptive teaching in mainstream lessons: reducing cognitive overload, using predictable visual structures and removing environmental or acoustic barriers that trigger sensory dysregulation.

Classroom audit

Row 1
Environmental areaVisual structure
Specific audit criteria
Evidenced?, row 1
Observed strengths / required actions
Row 2
Environmental areaCognitive load
Specific audit criteria
Evidenced?, row 2
Observed strengths / required actions
Row 3
Environmental areaSensory workspace
Specific audit criteria
Evidenced?, row 3
Observed strengths / required actions

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Targeted & Specialist Intervention Management (Waves 2 & 3)

Track 2: Teaching, Interventions & Pathways

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Brings precision to targeted groups and intensive 1:1 support. Clear, scorecard-based entry and exit thresholds stop pupils staying in long-term, low-impact interventions.

Intervention scorecard

Row 1
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Intervention name
Frequency / duration
Baseline
Current
Fidelity (%)
Exit?, row 1
Row 2
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Intervention name
Frequency / duration
Baseline
Current
Fidelity (%)
Exit?, row 2

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Post-16 Transitions, Preparation for Adulthood & Pathways

Track 2: Teaching, Interventions & Pathways

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Plans transitions and Preparation for Adulthood outcomes, tracks NEET risk and confirms destinations.

Transition tracker

Row 1
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Year group
Primary PfA focus, row 1
Active transition goals
NEET risk, row 1
Confirmed destination
Row 2
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Year group
Primary PfA focus, row 2
Active transition goals
NEET risk, row 2
Confirmed destination

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Multi-Agency Collaboration & Integration Hub

Track 3: Data, Integration & People Hubs

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Tracks referrals to external services against expected timescales and records escalation.

Referral tracker

Row 1
Agency / serviceNHS Speech and Language Therapy
Key contact (role or team)
Referral date
Expected date
Timescale met?, row 1
Escalation action taken
Row 2
Agency / serviceCAMHS
Key contact (role or team)
Referral date
Expected date
Timescale met?, row 2
Escalation action taken

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Co-Production & Family Partnership Protocols

Track 3: Data, Integration & People Hubs

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Records family aspirations and co-designed actions. Use a family reference code, never parent or pupil names.

Co-production record

Row 1
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Family reference code
Key family aspirations
Co-designed action steps
Agreed review
Agreed with family?, row 1
Row 2
Pupil reference code (e.g. P-0423)
Family reference code
Key family aspirations
Co-designed action steps
Agreed review
Agreed with family?, row 2

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Data Governance, Analytics & Digital Dashboards

Track 3: Data, Integration & People Hubs

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Compares whole-school SEND measures against targets and records the strategic action needed.

SEND measures

Row 1
MetricSEND attendance rate
School baseline
National target
Current performance
Variance
Strategic action required
Row 2
MetricAnnual review deadlines met
School baseline
National target
Current performance
Variance
Strategic action required

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Workforce Capacity Building & CPD Framework

Track 3: Data, Integration & People Hubs

School

Completed by

Date

Operational purpose: Tracks SEND training across teams, whether it has been validated in practice, and when refreshers are due.

CPD tracker

Row 1
Department / team
Role type
Training module title
Completion date
Validated?, row 1
Next refresher
Row 2
Department / team
Role type
Training module title
Completion date
Validated?, row 2
Next refresher

Notes and next steps

Notes

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.

Local Improvements and Versions Log

Record every local adjustment without overwriting the framework text.

Versions

Row 1
Version1.0
Date
Section / template adjusted
Nature of adaptation / improvement
Authorised sign-off (role)
Row 2
Version1.1
Date
Section / template adjusted
Nature of adaptation / improvement
Authorised sign-off (role)

Do not enter children's names or any information that could identify a child. Your answers save automatically in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.