Frequently asked Questions about education
What are special educational needs (SEN)?
The Department for Children, Schools and Families defines children with special educational needs as having 'learning difficulties or disabilities which make it harder for them to learn or access education than most other children of the same age.' This could be because they have a learning difficulty, struggle with communication or behaviour, or have a sensory or physical disability.
For some children their special needs are clear from a very early age, for others their difficulties only become obvious when things don't go as expected at school. Most children with special needs go to a local mainstream school.
What is statutory assessment?
If your child has been receiving support on school action plus and you feel they aren't making enough progress or meeting the targets on their IEP or provision map, you or the school can ask the local authority to make a statutory assessment of their special educational needs.
A statutory assessment is a very detailed look at your child's needs and will involve input from you, and reports from your child's teachers and other professionals such as educational psychologists or healthcare professionals. On the basis of this assessment, the LA will decide whether your child needs a statement of special educational needs.
What is a statement?
At the end of statutory assessment, if the Children and Young People's Trust, the local authority (LA), believes your child needs more help than the early years setting or school can provide, they will decide to write a statement of special educational needs.
A statement of special educational needs is a legal document which sets out your child's educational needs as assessed by the LA. It also sets out the type of support the LA feels is needed and names the school, type of school or provision which will give this support.
Once the statement is written it should be reconsidered once a year in the Annual Review.
and reports to back up what you say are more important than a diagnosis.
How do I get a statement for my child?
If you think your child is not making sufficient progress on school action/early years action plus, you can ask the LEA for a statutory assessment of their needs. The school or professionals from other agencies such as the health authority or social services may also request an assessment. This assessment, in turn, may lead to a statement of special educational needs.
