Support at school for my child/young person
Page last updated 5th February 2024
This information is about the support that mainstream schools should provide for children with special educational needs (SEN). Some of the information has been taken from the SEND Information, Advice and Support Service ‘SEN Support’ factsheet that can be found on their website.
The SEND Code of Practice says: All children and young people are entitled to an education that enables them to make progress so that they:
The duties on schools to make SEND provision
The SEND Code of Practice says all schools must:
What is SEND support?
Every child with identified special educational needs should have SEND support. This means help that is additional to or different from the support generally given to other children of the same age.
The purpose of SEN support is to help children achieve the outcomes or learning objectives set for them by the school. Schools should involve parent carers in this process.
Every school must publish a SEND information report about the SEND provision the school makes. You can find this on the school’s website. You can also ask your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator for information on the SEND provision made by the school.
The Local Offer published by West Sussex County Council also sets out what support it expects early years settings, schools and colleges to make for all children and young people with SEN or disabilities. You can find out about the funding of SEND support here westsussex.local-offer.org
SEND support can take many forms, including: |
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Who decides what SEN support my child has?
The SEND Code of Practice says Class and subject teachers, supported by the senior leadership team, should make regular assessments of progress for all pupils. These should seek to identify pupils making less than expected progress given their age and individual circumstances. The school should then decide if your child needs SEN support. The school should talk to you and your child about this. If a young person is 16 or older the school should involve them directly. Sometimes you may be the first to be aware that your child has some special educational needs. If you think your child may need SEN support you should talk to your child’s teacher or to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator. If you are not happy about the support your child has you can ask to talk to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator or head teacher. You can also find out more by looking at Where can I get more information, advice or support? at the end of this page..
A graduated approach
The SEND Code of Practice says
When your child is identified as having SEN, the school should use a graduated approach based on four steps. These are: |
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Assess Teaching staff should work with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator to assess your child’s needs, so that they give the right support. They should involve you in this and, where possible, seek your child’s views. The SEND Code of Practice says: Schools should take seriously any concerns raised by a parent. Sometimes schools will seek advice from a specialist teacher or a health professional. They should talk to you about this first. |
Plan If the school decides that your child needs SEN support it must tell you. The school should talk with you about the outcomes that will be set, what help will be provided and agree a date for progress to be reviewed. |
Do Your child’s class or subject teacher is usually responsible for the work that is done with your child, and should work closely with any teaching assistants or specialist staff involved. The school should tell you who is responsible for the support your child receives. All those who work with your child should be made aware of: their needs, the outcomes sought, the support provided and any teaching strategies or approaches that are required. |
Review The school should review your child’s progress, and the difference that the help your child has been given has made, on the date agreed in the plan. You and your child should be involved in the review and in planning the next step. |
The SEND Code of Practice says
Schools should meet with parent carers at least three times a year.
Sometimes it helps to involve other professionals in further assessment or to support planning the next steps. If your child has not made reasonable progress it will be important to agree with the school what should happen next.
You and the school can look at the Local Offer to see what support is available that could help achieve your child’s outcomes.
Where can I get more information, advice or support?
You can find out more about SEN Support by:
You can also get in touch with West Sussex SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS) who can give you:
Helpline: 0330 222 8555
By e-mail: [email protected]
You can also visit the SENDIAS website for more information, which includes their SENDIAS guide on SEN Support which goes into more detail than their factsheet.
Related pages
- Graduated SEND Support
- Primary Schools
- Secondary Schools
- Guidance for Admissions to Mainstream Schools for Pupils with EHCPs
- Special Support Centres (SSC) in West Sussex
- Guidance Associated with Admissions to West Sussex Special Support Centres (SSC) for Pupils with EHCPs
- Special Schools in West Sussex
- Guidance Associated with Admissions to West Sussex Special Schools for Pupils with EHCPs
- Independent and Non Maintained Schools
- School Exclusions
- Worried about school/college
- Compliments, Concerns and Complaints about a school
- Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service Online Support Offer
- The SENAT's work on outstanding EHC needs assessments