Special Educational Needs
The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice promotes a school based approach for meeting the needs of children with SEN. Only when these interventions have been tried and failed, or the child’s needs are sufficiently complex, will the LEA consider an assessment for a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
School based interventions
These are known as ‘School Action’ or ‘School Action Plus’. Children whose SEN have been identified by the school will have their needs met in school through one of these interventions. ‘School Action’ requires the school to draw up strategies and short term targets using the school’s own resources to address the child’s difficulties. ‘School Action Plus’ applies when the school has to utilise external agencies to meet the child’s
SEN e.g. the services of an educational psychologist or a counsellor. All children with SEN must have an Individual Educational Plan (IEP), which should be drafted in consultation with the parent, detailing strategies and targets. The IEP must be reviewed at least twice a year.
Assessments and Statements of Special Educational Needs
Before a child can be statemented, the LEA has to carry out a statutory assessment of the child’s SEN. Parents usually request an assessment if their child’s needs are complex, or they feel the child is making insufficient progress at ‘School Action’ or ‘School Action Plus’. The request must be made formally in writing. The LEA has six weeks to decide to carry out an assessment. Parents can appeal a LEA’s refusal to assess to the Special Educational
Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). The appeal must be lodged within two months of the LEA’s decision.
After an assessment, the LEA has to decide if a Statement is necessary to meet the child’s SEN. Parents may appeal to the SENDIST if the LEA refuses to Statement the child.
Amending Statements of Special Educational Needs
Amendments to Statements of SEN can be made in certain circumstances. Amendments can be made to:
Part 2 – the description of the child’s needs
Part 3 – the provision required to meet the child’s SEN
Part 4 – the named school
In order to do this, a written request has be made to the LEA either asking for a reassessment of the child’s needs, or for a new school to be named in Part 4. The law places restrictions on the number of times and frequency that such requests can be made. Parents may appeal to the SENDIST against a LEA’s refusal to comply.