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Special Educational Needs
Some children have more difficulty learning than most other children of their age. They may find learning in school difficult generally, or have learning difficulties affecting one area only. The general term used to describe any difficulties your child may be having with their learning is 'Special educational needs'.
Special educational needs can arise for a number of reasons. In some cases this may be a temporary difficulty, whilst for others there may be long-term special educational needs. With the right help, children can make progress.
- who can help me?
- what kind of help might my child receive?
- what is School Action?
- what is School Action Plus?
- what is a Statutory Assessment?
- what is a Statement of Special Educational Needs?
- where might my child go to school?
- what you can do to help
- further information and advice
What is the Code of Practice
The Code of Practice gives guidance to local education authorities (LEA), schools and other settings who work with children on how to identify, assess and make provision for children's special educational needs. It helps everyone understand how to put the law about education into practice.
All local authority maintained educational settings must follow the Code of Practice. This includes early years's settings that receive money from the Government.
You can get a copy of the SEN Code of Practice from the Department for Education and Skills or call their publications centre on 0845 602 2260.
The DfES also have information for parents and carers
Who can help me ....?
In school
If you are concerned about your child's progress in school, talk to their class teacher, or (in secondary schools) form tutor or head of year. You can also talk to the Headteacher.
All schools have a specialist teacher called a SENCO who co-ordinates the special educational needs support within the school. The SENCO will keep a record of the children with SEN and wll monitor their progress.
Outside school
- Parent Partnership Service provides information to parents whose children have SEN. In Brighton & Hove this service is provided by aMAZE.
- aMAZE offers independent information, support and advice on all aspects of the SEN process. You can contact them on their helpline: (01273) 772289 (9.30am - 12 noon Monday - Thursday).
- The SEN Team, Brighton & Hove City Council can provide information and advice about support for your child and will be involved if your child has an assessment for a statement of SEN. They can be contacted on (01273) 293552.
What kind of help might my child receive?
If the teacher thinks your child needs more help, they will receive this in the form of:
- school action
- school action plus
- provision stated in a statement of SEN
What is School Action?
This means the class teacher or school's SENCO, another teacher or a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) will give your child extra help. Your child will also have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which lists targets for them to work towards and the action/support necessary to help them achieve them. The school SENCO, or another teacher, should talk with you about the IEP so that you can also help your child.
The aim of school action is to enable your child to progress so that they no longer need any extra help at all.
What is School Action Plus?
If your child is not meeting their targets at school action, they may need to move to school action plus. This means more help from the school, together with additional advice and guidance from specialist services. This could include the involvement of teaching support services and other agencies. Most children needing school action plus support will have their needs discussed by the school SENCO and an Educational Psychologist (EP).
The aim of school action plus support is to enable your child to progress so that they move from school action plus to school action, or no longer need any extra help at all.
What is a statutory assessment?
Some children require more support than school action plus and a request for a formal assessment of their special educational needs may be made. You, as the parent/carer or the school can make a request for this assessment.
A Statutory Assessment is a formal process that includes a multi-agency assessment. This means that a number of people (such as your child's school and an educational psychologist) will be asked to tell the CFS what they know about your child so that they have more detailed information about your child's needs.
At the end of the statutory process we will decide whether or not to issue your child with a statement of special educational needs.
Please complete our SEN Information Request form if you would like further information or clarification on an SEN issue.
What is a Statement of special educational needs?
If this assessment shows that more specialised support is needed, your child will be issued with a Statement of special educational needs . This is a document that sets out your child's special educational needs, what support is necessary to meet those needs and how they will be helped.
The aim of the support set out in a Statement of SEN is to enable your child to progress so that they may move to school action plus, school action or no longer need a statement.
If the LEA decides to issue your child with a statement, it will issue a ‘proposed statement’ setting out your child’s SEN and how it thinks these can be supported. We will send you a copy of the proposed statement together with information about how you can let us know what you think about the statement.
A final statement is usually issued eight weeks after the LEA has received your comments. You will then be sent a copy of the signed final statement together with information about how to appeal if you disagree with it.
Where might my child go to school?
When your child is issued with a proposed statement, the LEA will send you a preference form and information about where your child might go to school. You can make a preference for a maintained school (one which is funded by the local education authority) you wish your child to attend or make a case for a placement in any other school.
The LEA will take into account the views of you and your child about which school they will go to. However, the final decision is up to the LEA.
The LEA normally has a duty to educate a child in a mainstream school. However, it might be that they feel that a mainstream school would not be the appropriate place for your child to get their education.
The LEA must name your preferred choice of school unless:
- the school is unsuitable for their age, ability, aptitude or SEN; or
- if their attendance at the school would be incompatible with the efficient education of other pupils or efficient use of resources.
In all cases, the school’s Governing Body must be consulted before naming it in your child’s statement and a copy of the proposed statement will be sent to them.
Transport
If your child has a statement of SEN they will automatically be entitled to help with transport if:
- your child is less than 8 years old and the school named on the statement is more than 2 miles from your home; or
- your child is more than 8 years old and the school named on the statement is more than 3 miles from your home.
If you think your child needs transport and the distance they have to travel does not meet the above criteria, then evidence will be needed in order for the Transport Team to consider your request. You will get a transport form to fill in when you get your child's statement and at each annual review or you can complete an online application.
For general information about transport you can write to the School Transport Team on (01273) 293501. You can also visit our School Transport page.
What you can do to help
- support and encourage your child.
- it is important to have regular contact with the school. Talk to them to see how you can help to support your child.
- you may want to meet staff from the support services involved in helping your child.
- all schools have a Board of Governors, one of whom has particular responsibility for SEN. You can find out who this person is by contacting the secretary at your child's school.
Organisations providing further information and advice:
| Organisation | Telephone number |
|---|---|
| Advisory Centre for Education (ACE), London website: www.ace-ed.org.uk |
0808 800 5793 |
| aMAZE (Parent Partnership) email: info@amazebrighton.org.uk |
(01273) 772289 |
| Department for Education & Skills (DfES) email: dfes@prolog.uk.com website: www.dfes.gov.uk |
0845 60 222 60 |
| Independent Panel for Special Educational Needs (IPSEA) website: www.ipsea.org.uk |
0800 018016 |
Useful documents
Brighton & Hove have published a short leaflet which gives information about the type of support your child might receive in school. You can get a copy of this from your child's school, the SEN Team, or download it:
A more detailed booklet for parents about the statutory assessment process can be obtained by contacting the SEN Team or download it:
Brighton & Hove's SEN Policy can be obtained by contacting the SEN Team or download it:
The SEN Team
Brighton & Hove City Council's SEN Team can be contacted at:
SEN Team
Children, Families & Schools
Brighton & Hove City Council
PO Box 2503
Kings House
Grand Avenue
Hove BN3 2SU
Tel: (01273) 293552
Fax: (01273) 293547
email: sen.team@brighton-hove.gov.uk