IN DEVELOPMENT - Team around the School

Team Around the School (TAS) – Bradford Strategy Update

What is TAS?

Team Around the School (TAS) is Bradford’s multi-agency, place-based approach to supporting vulnerable children and young people. It brings together professionals from education, social care, health, and the voluntary sector to work collaboratively with schools, identifying needs early and coordinating support efficiently.

TAS aims to work strategically with schools to deliver the following:

• Improved attendance and attainment
• Reduced exclusions and escalation to statutory services
• Strengthened safeguarding and family engagement
• Improved management of SEND and inclusion across schools
• Provide non-stigmatising, school-based support

Why TAS Matters

TAS aligns with key statutory guidance:

• Working Together to Improve School Attendance (2024)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2025)

It supports schools in fulfilling their duties by embedding professionals such as:

• Social workers
• Mental health practitioners
• Attendance officers
• Early Help coordinators
• Other Statutory and Voluntary Sector practitioners

Bradford’s Approach

Bradford’s TAS model is being developed with a tiered support structure:

The tiers have initially been based on the level of need however this is likely to change as the strategy develops.

A pilot is underway to test this model across different school categories.

Recent Developments

As of August 2025:

• Bradford secured DfE funding via SEND to support TAS development.
• A Virtual TAS Directory has been created, linking professionals to schools.
• NHS partners are exploring integration with the model.
• The 100 Children Project is targeting children with poor attendance and no service involvement, with outreach and Early Help assessments underway.
• A scorecard is in development to track key indicators: SEND, EHCPs, attendance, exclusions, safeguarding, and Early Help.

How Schools Are Involved

Schools are central to TAS. The model supports:

• DSLs and pastoral leads in coordinating support
• Strategic planning through regular multi-agency meetings
• Early identification of needs using school-level data

Criteria for TAS involvement may include:

• Persistent absence above local/national averages
• High exclusions or safeguarding concerns
• Clusters of unmet mental health needs
• Disproportionate numbers of vulnerable pupils (e.g. SEND, EHCPs, children in care)

What’s Next?

Upcoming Actions:

• Finalising the TAS tiered model
• Scorecard presentation at headteacher meetings
• Mapping locality models to improve coordination
• Continued engagement with school CEOs

Virtual TAS Directory – Now Live!

We’re excited to launch the Virtual Team Around the School (TAS) Directory, a dynamic resource that connects schools with named professionals across education, children’s social care, health, and the voluntary sector. This directory is designed to strengthen multi-agency collaboration by making it easier for schools to identify and engage with the right support at the right time. Whether you're looking for safeguarding advice, attendance support, or early help coordination, the Virtual TAS Directory is your gateway to Bradford’s integrated support network.

[Access the Virtual TAS Directory here]