SENDIASS
Special Educational Needs (“SEN”) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn.
For example, someone’s SEN might affect their:
Reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia.
Ability to understand things.
Behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends.
Concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD.
Physical ability to do things such as writing.
There are two questions to ask when thinking about whether a child or young person has SEN.
1. Does the child or young person have a learning difficulty or disability?
A child or young person has a learning difficulty or disability if:
They have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
They have a disability which makes it difficult for them to use the facilities normally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or post-16 institutions.
Someone has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities
2. Does that learning difficulty or disability call for special educational provision to be made?
Special educational provision is any educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for other children or young people of the same age. This is a wide definition, and could cover a wide range of things, for example:
If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then the child or young person has SEN.
Some children or young people may need additional support which is not special educational provision; for example they might need certain treatments or medicines administered at school because of a medical condition they have. In order to be classed as having SEN, they must require support with education or training which is different from that given to other children or young people of the same age.
The 'Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions' guidance below is statutory guidance that schools must follow. It gives clear information on what schools should do to meet the needs of children with medical conditions.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3
SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan
The Department for Education (DfE) published the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, further to the SEND and Alternative Provision Green Paper published in March 2022. The Green Paper set out the government’s proposals to improve outcomes for children and young people and improve experiences for families by seeking to reduce the current adversity and frustration in the system and deliver financial sustainability. It also considered the specific issues facing the alternative provision sector.
If you have SEN, your school should give you extra help so you can do well and feel supported in your learning.
An EHCP is a legal document. It tells people about: Your needs, Your support and your goal
Transitioning between educational settings can be a difficult time.
This information is for young people with SEND aged 16 to 25
Mediation is a meeting to help solve disagreements
A complaint is when you tell someone that you’re unhappy or upset about something because you think something is wrong or unfair.
A Personal Budget is money that can help pay for the support you need if you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
If you have SEND (special educational needs or disabilities), you might be more likely to be suspended or excluded from school
At SENDIASS, we encourage you to build and maintain a positive relationship with schools and remain child-focused
You may want to make an appeal for various different reasons