Special Educational Needs

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Statementing and Provision Team is made up of Educational Psychologists, Specialist Advisory Teachers and Higher Level Teaching Assistants, Post-16 LDD Officers (Learning Difficulties and Disabilities), Business Support staff and Statementing Officers.

When children and young people are suspected of experiencing special educational needs it is usually the case that for very young children a referral will be made for assessment either by Health staff or from staff in early years settings. When children enter school, if there are concerns about special educational needs then support and advice will usually be sought by school staff, in particular the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Parents should always be involved and informed, and when parents have their own concerns about their children’s special educational needs it is recommended that they first of all raise these with staff in the school or setting. However, parents can also raise these concerns directly with staff from the SEND Statementing and Provision Team.

Current legislation expects that a graduated response will be made to address children’s special educational needs. For most children who experience such needs the input of support from parents and staff in schools and settings – if necessary guided by advice from specialists such as Educational Psychologists and Specialist Advisory Teachers  – will be sufficient to meet their needs. For a small number of children whose difficulties are likely to be lifelong and complex, a formal assessment of their special educational needs by the Local Authority and the issuing of a Statement of Special Educational Needs will be appropriate. Such assessments are normally requested by Health staff or staff from early years settings in the case of very young children, or later by schools. Parents also have a right to request such formal assessments.

Parents can find out more about special educational needs and acquire confidential advice and support from their local Parent Support Service, contact details for which are provided below:

Key documents

Useful links

• Department for Education
• Contact a Family