Physical Difficulties Support Service

Support for your Child

The Physical Difficulties Support Service (PDSS) support children and young people on caseload from 3 years to 16 years who have a physical difficulty or medical condition that has a significant impact on their physical access to the school or nursery they attend. 

Supporting Children and Young People

Physical Difficulties Support Service support children and young people on caseload from 3 -16 years who have a physical difficulty or medical condition that has a significant impact on their physical access to the school/nursery they attend.

PDSS supports children and young people by:

  • Offering educational advice on the physical access to the curriculum. This ensures the children and young people make progress and are fully included in all aspects of school life
  • Recommending resources and strategies that they can use in the classroom to show the teacher what they have learnt
  • Recommending ways of recording their work using computers, laptops, and tablets
  • Supporting children and young people to be active and join in with PE and swimming lessons with their friends
  • Supporting children and young people to join in with practical lessons e.g., Art, Food and Design Technology and Science
  • Supporting children and young people to join in with all educational visits/school trips
  • Supporting young people in preparing to leave school
  • Listening to the views of parents, carers, children, and young people, and including them in decisions that affect them

Supporting Education Settings

PDSS support schools and other education settings by:

  • Offering advice to schools and nurseries about the Equality Act
  • Advising schools about educational provision and funding
  • Attending annual reviews of children and young people on active caseload who have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP)
  • Supporting the writing of Send Support Provision Plans (SSPPs) for children and young people on active caseload
  • Supporting schools in writing physical management plans for children and young people on active caseload
  • Offering advice around accessible schools in the local area
  • Supporting the return to school for children and young people who have been away from school because of illness/hospital stay
  • Offering training for nurseries, primary schools, and secondary schools
  • Offering virtual meetings to nurseries for pupils that do not meet criteria for caseload support
  • Offering P.E advice to schools
  • Encouraging schools and health care professionals to work together
  • Letting schools and nurseries know about appropriate support groups and charities

Parent and Carer Contact with a PDSS Teacher

  • The school will refer your child to PDSS, and you will be asked to sign to give your consent.
  • The first meeting will be held in school with the SENCo and yourself to share information with the PDSS teacher.
  • The PDSS teacher will come into school and meet your child and offer advice to the school.