The information on this page is presented in the format of frequently asked questions. Please click a question from the index below to see the appropriate answer.
My child has special educational needs. What help is there available if my child has difficulty at school?
All schools must have a published policy for meeting special educational needs. Schools must also have a named teacher who acts as the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). They have a duty to identify and make provision for meeting the needs of pupils who are having difficulties with their learning and/or behaviour.
The guidelines for the identification of needs and ways to meet them are laid down by the Department for Education and Skills in Special Education Needs Code of Practice (2001). A proportion of the schools budget is delegated to enable them to meet most pupil’s special educational needs. If your child has significant difficulties, the school should implement an Individual Education Plan (IEP). This may be reviewed termly by the school. If your child is not making progress, the school may seek advice from external professionals. If concern about your child's progress continues, the school may consider making a request to the Local Authority for a statutory assessment of SEN. This process may lead to a statement of SEN being issued by the Authority for your child.
If you would like further information please contact the class teacher or the school's SENCO. There are publications available from the DCFS; 'Special Educational Needs (SEN) - A guide for parents and careers' and 'Special Educational Needs - Code of Practice'. If you would like independent confidential information and support please contact the Parent Partnership Service on 01753 787693 or email parentpartnership@slough.gov.uk.
Which school will my child attend if they become the subject of a statement of special educational needs?
Usually, a pupil will remain in his or her present educational placement after a statement is issued and will receive additional support through the statement to help them make progress. Parents or carers have a right to express a preference for their child to attend any mainstream school once a proposed statement is issued and the LA must comply with this preference by naming the school in Part 4 of the statement unless certain conditions apply. Sometimes, following statutory assessment, the child’s parents or carers and the Local Authority (LA) will agree that the child’s special educational needs (SEN) would be better met in a different setting, such as a specialist school.
Any pupil attending a specialist school must be the subject of a statement of SEN, unless they have been admitted on an assessment or emergency placement, pending completion of a statutory assessment. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Assessment and Review Team on 01753 787676.
A full listing of special schools and mainstream schools with resource provision can be found alongside further SEN information within the schools and colleges pages.
The Parent Partnership Service offers independent, confidential information and support. Telephone 01753 787693. The Department for Education and Science issues a booklet for parents or carers, Special Educational Needs (SEN) – Removing Barriers to Achievement. The SEN Code of Practice 2001 sets out the procedures that schools and LAs should follow in order to identify and meet special educational needs. Both of these publications are available free of charge from the DfES Publications Centre, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annersley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ. Telephone: 0845 602 2260. E-mail: dfes@prolog.uk.com or visit Teachernet's SEN pages.
I live in Slough, but my child attends a school in another local authority area. Who is responsible for assessing their special educational needs?
It is the responsibility of the Local Authority (LA) in which the child resides to carry out statutory assessment where appropriate and to maintain the statement should it be necessary for one to be issued.
The LA may be part of a unitary authority or a county council. Slough is a unitary authority and is therefore responsible for assessing the special educational needs of all pupils residing within the borough, regardless of where they attend school.
My child has special educational needs. How can I plan for his/her future once he or she leaves school?
Pupils who have statements of special educational needs must have a transition plan drawn up at the review of their statement that takes place in Year 9.
The school must invite representatives from Connexions, Social Care, the Primary Care Trust and the Local Authority to this review. The transition plan is to allow all the relevant professionals to start planning for the young person’s transition to adult provision, whether this is within further or higher education, the workplace, sheltered or residential provision or other specialised arrangements. The Connexions worker must attend the Year 9 review and is responsible for ensuring the arrangements for the young person’s transition from school are in place. This involves arranging funding for further education placements or ensuring that other agencies are making appropriate arrangements.
The views of the young person and his or her parents or carers are important in the transition process. The transition plan must be reviewed each year after the young person’s 14th birthday and this is normally done in conjunction with the annual review of the statement. You must contact the SENCo at your child’s school to discuss individual arrangements, they will be able to put you in touch with the appropriate Connexions worker.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Assessment and Review Team on 01753 787676.
The Parent Partnership Service offers independent, confidential information and support, telephone 01753 787693. The Department for Education and Science issues a booklet for parents or carers, Special Educational Needs (SEN) – Removing Barriers to Achievement. The SEN Code of Practice 2001 sets out the procedures that schools and LAs must follow to identify and meet special educational needs. Both publications are available free of charge from the DfES Publications Centre, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annersley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ. Telephone: 0845 602 2260.
What happens to the statement of special educational needs, when my child leaves school?
When a pupil with a statement of special educational needs reaches school leaving age (age 16) the statement will cease. It will cease if the pupil moves on to further or higher education. If a pupil decides to return to the sixth form the statement may continue if a pupil has special educational needs that require additional support.
Funding for sixth form pupils is provided by the Learning and Skills Council, rather than from local and central government sources, and it is often possible for schools to meet the SEN of sixth formers without the need for a statement.
A further or higher education establishment may find it useful to see the student’s statement and most recent annual review to help in planning ways to support the young person at college or university. Therefore it’s a good idea for parents or carers to keep these documents so that they are available when needed.
Pupils with significant learning difficulties who attend special schools may continue to do so up to the age of 19 and the statement usually continues for such pupils until they leave school at the end of Year 13. You should contact the SENCo at your child’s school to discuss individual arrangements. They will be able to put you in touch with the appropriate Connexions worker.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Assessment and Review Team on 01753 787676. The Parent Partnership Service offers independent and confidential information and support, telephone 01753 787693. The Department for Education and Science issues a booklet for parents or carers, Special Educational Needs (SEN) – Removing Barriers to Achievement.
The SEN Code of Practice 2001 sets out the procedures that schools and LAs should follow in order to identify and meet special educational needs. Both of these publications are available free of charge from the DfES Publications Centre, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annersley, Nottingham, NG15 0DJ. Telephone: 0845 602 2260. E-mail: dfes@prolog.uk.com or visit Teachernet's SEN pages.
For all enquiries please contact the Customer Service Centre
01753 475111
My Council
Landmark Place
High Street
Slough
opposite Slough Library
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