Most children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) require extra help in school, some more than others. There are several ways that pupils with Special Educational Needs can receive support in school and these are explained below.
School Action and School Action Plus
If a pupil receives support through School Action (SA) this means that the school has identified the pupil's special educational needs and the school changes the curriculum for the pupil as they consider appropriate. School Action Plus (SA+) is the same as School Action but outside agencies will be involved with the pupil enabling them to access the curriculum. An example of this would be when a speech and language therapist supports and advises the school in developing a language programme to be implemented internally.
If a pupil is on School Action or School Action Plus the school must draft an Individual Education Plan (IEP) outlining the pupil's short-term targets and how these will be met. These should be reviewed at least twice a year. Unfortunately the school does not have any legal duty to implement the Individual Education Plan (IEP).
If you would like your child to be placed on School Action (SA) or School Action Plus (SA+), then you should discuss this with your child's school Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Unfortunately should the SENCO refuse to support your child through either School Action (SA) or School Action Plus (SA+) there is no legal remedy.
What is a statement of Special Educational Needs?
A statement of Special Educational Needs is the highest level of support available for pupils with SEN. It is essentially a document that is drafted by the LEA and includes a description of the child's educational needs (Part 2), provisions to meet the identified needs (Part 3), the name of a particular school or type of school the child must attend (Part 4) and a description of any non-educational needs (Part 5). The LEA has a duty to implement Parts 2, 3 & 4 of the statement. However if a parent decides to home educate their child the LEA duty to implement the Statement of Special Educational Needs usually ceases.
Pupils who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs will also have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) setting out the short-term targets and how these will be met. Although the LEA has a duty to implement the Statement of Special Educational Needs there is no legal duty to implement the IEP.
For further information on how to get a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or how we can help you with your child's special educational needs (SEN) please follow the relevant link.
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For more information please contact our Education Law Solicitor Samantha Hale on Colchester (01206) 835230 or email Education@fjg.co.uk