Schools can support children with special educational needs by giving SEN support.
If a child has SEN, their school should make a plan of what support will be put in place.
What is SEN support?
SEN support is what schools and similar settings use to find and meet the needs of children with special educational needs (SEN).
They should change support where necessary for each child.
This used to be called Early Years/School Action and Early Years/School Action Plus.
Who can get SEN support?
Education settings must make sure they meet the 'reasonable' special educational needs of children.
This means that all education settings, including: early years settings, schools and colleges – should be able to meet the needs of most children with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. .
How to get SEN Support
If a child or young person has SEN, or an educational setting thinks that they might have SEN, the staff must follow this process:
- Assess: they must talk to a child’s parents or the young person themselves to work out what support might be needed.
- Plan: once a child or young person’s needs have been identified, staff must work together with them and their family to decide what outcomes they want the child or young person to achieve and what support should be put in place to help them achieve those outcomes.
- Do: the staff, supported by the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) where relevant, should put this support into practice.
- Review: the support received by the child or young person should be reviewed by everyone involved Involved is being included in something or taking part in something. to see if it is working. If it is, it might continue. If it is not working, or if the outcomes have been achieved, some of the arrangements might be changed.
Schools must set out their arrangements for supporting pupils with SEN in an online policy. You will be able to view this policy through your
council
A council is also called a local authority. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
's Local Offer.
The Local Offer
Every council must have a Local Offer of support that it expects to be available in the local area for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
The local offer will be available on the council’s
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
– if you are unsure, you can find your local council here.
Or visit our webpage about the Local Offer, to find out more.
SEN stands for Special Educational Needs (SEN).
SEN support offers extra help for a child with learning, communication, sensory, or behavioural need that is different from or extra to what most children receive.
Parents and carers can raise concerns with a class teacher, who will then work with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to decide if SEN support would be helpful.
A SENCO is a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, often found in educational settings, they are responsible for managing support and coordinating with staff and parents.
Parents and carers should be involved in any SEN support discussions and informed about the support in place, as well as updated on the progress.
If your child needs more specialised or a higher-level of support, the school may consider an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The creation of this page was funded by The National Lottery Community A community is the people and places in an area. Fund.