Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Children with special educational needs (SEN) all have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children of the same age. The children may need extra or different help from that given to other children of the same age.
Help for children with special educational needs will usually be in the child’s ordinary, mainstream early education setting or school, sometimes with the help of outside specialists.
Many children with special educational needs can be given extra help by the school through either School Action or School Action Plus. Children with more complex needs and children who do not make progress on School Action Plus may need extra help through Funding for Inclusion (FFI) or a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
School Action
The school will take the views from parents and others when deciding what extra help the child needs and from this an Individual Education Plan is written describing the extra help and gives specific targets for the child’s progress.
School Action Plus
A new individual education plan is written and the school will call in outside specialists such as Education Psychologist.
Funding For Inclusion (FFI)
Funding for Inclusion is targeted on provision for pupils with identified SEN.
Pupils are matched to Education Leeds SEN criteria either using data held centrally by Education Leeds or through the work of Education Leeds Inclusion Services.
There are two broad levels of funding Level 1 funding is given to the school and remains with the school and Level 2 funding is pupil related and can move with the pupil. Level 2 funding is also further differentiated into tiers depending on the severity of the pupils needs.
Statement of Special Educational Needs
If a child is not making enough progress or needs increased extra help, Education Leeds may decide to carry out a Statutory Assessment which is a more detailed assessment of the child’s needs. Statutory Assessment is only necessary if the education setting cannot provide all the help your child needs.
A statement of Special Educational Needs is a legal document that describes the child’s special educational needs and the specialists help that the child should receive. Once a statutory assessment has been carried out Education Leeds will decide whether or not to issue a statement. Funding is not attached to a statement and can only be allocated through the FFI process.
Education Leeds may issue a Note in Lieu which is a document that describes your child’s educational needs, explains why a statement has not been issued and outlines what help should be given to your child by the school.
Annual Review
Mediation
Parent Partnership Service is able to arrange mediation for parents who find themselves in a disagreement with the school or Education Leeds about their child’s SEN. It can be a useful tool for resolving disagreements and can be arranged quickly. The process can improve communication between all the people involved whilst working towards realistic agreements.
Mediation is a voluntary process. For it to take place, everyone involved in the disagreement has to agree to taking part. It is useful to take part in mediation if you are considering making an appeal to SENDIST.
For more information please contact Community Accord
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal are an independent body that parents can appeal to if they have disagreements about aspects of statutory assessment and statements. There is a two month time limit for making an appeal which starts when Education Leeds gives you it’s final decision letter.
Parent Partnership Service may be able to provide parents with and Independent Parental Supporter who can advocate for parents at meetings with Education Leeds and appeals to SENDIST.
SENDIST also consider claims of disability discrimination in schools. For more information about this please look at the disability section.
Specialist Inclusive Learning Centers
In 2005 Education Leeds established six Specialist Inclusive Learning Centers (SILCs). All SILCs provide full-time schooling on a special school site for children with more complex needs, as well as full and part-time educational opportunities in mainstream secondary schools, primary schools and children’s centre partnerships.
SILCs are developing support services to mainstream schools to increase the opportunity for pupils with complex SEN and disabilities to attend their local school.