SEND
16 Feb 2024
The Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) graduated approach
Some children find it much harder to learn than other children of the same age. They may need extra help in school or nursery. These children are said to have special educational needs and / or disabilities.
It is important to identify these needs as soon as possible. Teachers continually check the progress children are making and will adapt their teaching for children having difficulties.
A very few children will have very severe or complex difficulties which require a detailed multi-disciplinary assessment by the local authority which may lead to a statement of special educational needs. Most children with special educational needs have their needs met in their local school, without the need for a statement.
The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice gives guidance to schools and the local authority on how they should provide help for children.
SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf
The Local Offer
As part of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice 2015, Local Authorities have a duty to provide a ‘Local Offer’. This means that each Local Authority is responsible for publishing information about provision they expect to be available in their area for children and young people from 0 to 25 years of age who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.
The Local Offer helps children, young people and their parents to understand both support and services they can expect from a range of local agencies. This offer must include both local provision and provision outside the area that the local authority expects is likely to be used by children and young people with Special Educational Needs and /or Disabilities for whom they are responsible.
The Local Offer has two key purposes:
- To provide clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the support and opportunities available.
- To make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving children and young people with SEND, parents and carers, and service providers.
The Local Offer forms a significant part of the SEND Code of Practice and focuses on statutory duties for local authorities. The Local Offer is what goes on every day to support children and young people with SEND and how we ensure quality around this. This includes what we expect to be available in schools, colleges and other educational provision.
Find out more about Waltham Forest's local offer:
Waltham Foest SEND Local Offer
How can schools help children with special educational needs?
When a teacher first thinks a child has special educational needs they will look at how they can adapt their teaching and the work they ask the child to do. This is called differentiation.
If they think the child needs support additional to or different from other children in class they will talk to the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) sometimes known as the Inclusion Coordinator. The SENCo may suggest strategies that the class or subject teacher can use.
They may also decide that the child needs some additional support. This is called School/Early Years Action and the school will involve you in any decisions that they make about how to help your child make progress and they will review these decisions at least twice a year with you.
Parents will always be told when their child is having special educational provision and you will have a chance to to give your views to the school about this.
Please click below to view our SEND information report and pathway:
-SEND Pathway.pdf-
-SEND Information Report.pdf
-Waltham Forest SEND guide for parents.pdf-
Name and contact details of the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO):
Mr Deena Chetty on the school telephone number