The SEND Reforms: What schools need to know and do
SEN and Part 3 of the Children and Families Act The Children and Families Act received Royal Assent on 13th March 2014 and the Department for Education a revised SEN Code of Practice is due to be published at the end of July 2014. Changes to the operation of the SEN framework will be implemented from September 2014. At the same time, school funding changes have affected the way schools are funded to meet SEN and Ofsted have an increased focus on the progress of vulnerable groups of children. This briefing is designed to give schools information about the forthcoming changes and to help them prepare for the reforms.
Key principles in the Children and Families Act Participation: The Act promotes the participation of parents and young people in decision-making about SEN outcomes: the Act focuses on outcomes and improving progress for children and young people with SEN. The Act requires a joint approach across all agencies: •
education, health and social care will be required to co-operate at a local level to meet children and young people’s needs: and
•
local authorities and health commissioning groups will be required to commission services jointly for children and young people, with SEN.
Changes in assessment and planning •
School Action and School Action Plus will be replaced by SEN support: a graduated approach to identifying and meeting SEN, with schools involving parents in identifying needs, deciding outcomes, planning provision and seeking expertise at whatever point it is needed.
•
Statements will be phased out from September 2014 and will be replaced by Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and plans.
•
EHC plans will extend from birth to 25, where necessary, replacing the Learning Difficulties Assessment for young people leaving school.
•
Academies will be covered by the same statutory requirements as maintained schools.
Local Offer The Local Offer will set out what all local agencies are expected to provide including what schools are expected to provide from their delegated budget, their ‘notional SEN budget’. 1
Implications for schools & academies
Children & Families Act: timing AUTUMN 2013 •
Children & Families Bill scrutinised in House of Lords
•
Public consultation of the SEND Code of Practice
•
•
Code of Practice. • •
agreed at Schools Forum
Representatives of schools and academies agree funding formula with local authority;
Consultation on transitional School funding formula for 2014-15
Respond to consultation on draft SEN Code Practice.
this will be important to inform the Local
arrangements •
Key staff become familiar with draft SEN
Offer from next year. •
Initial planning for September 2014 to reflect draft Code and the new national curriculum inclusion statement for those with SEN and disabilities.
SPRING 2014 •
Children & Families Bill receives Royal
•
Assent
•
First draft of SEN Code of Practice published
•
Transitional arrangements published
•
Preparatory work on Local Offer, under current regulations.
•
Key staff, governors become familiar with SEN Code of Practice.
•
Training for staff on key changes: single SEN stage; focus on outcomes; increased participation of parents and children and young people with SEN; increased awareness
SUMMER 2014 •
Funding formula for 2014-15 applies
of most effective interventions. •
Preparatory work for new school information requirements.
•
provision for pupils on school action/school
FROM 1st SEPTEMBER 2014 • •
Implementation of Children and Families
action plus, put in place SEN support for
Act
them and for pupils with newly identified
Pupils with SEN requiring assessment
SEN.
will have an EHC Assessment and be
•
Implement SEN information requirements.
considered for an EHC plan
•
Develop partnerships with post-16 providers
•
New SEN Code of Practice takes effect
•
Implementation of 2014 national
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Implement SEN Code of Practice: review
to support transition planning. •
January 2015 school census: record all pupils
curriculum in line with inclusion
receiving SEN support, both those who have
statement
an EHCP and those who do not.
Organisations funded by DfE to provide information, resources and support to the SEN reform: Local Authority Contact your local authority for information about local arrangements on the implementation of the local offer and EHC plans. nasen National Special Educational Needs Learning Events including opportunities to discuss and respond to the consultative draft of the SEN Code of Practice. For more information, including details of implementation events in June & July 2014, see: http://www.nasen.org.uk/ Specialist Organisations •
Autism Education Trust: http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/
•
The Communications Trust: http://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/
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Dyslexia-SpLD Trust: http://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/
•
Early Language Development Programme: http://eldp.talkingpoint.org.uk/
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Preparing for Adulthood: http://preparingforadulthood.org.uk/
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Achievement for All: http://www.afa3as.org.uk/
Parent support •
Early Support: http://www.ncb.org.uk/earlysupport
•
National Network of Parent Carer Forums: http://www.nnpcf.org.uk/
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National Parent Partnership Network: http://www.parentpartnership.org.uk/
General Support •
Mott McDonald, Pathfinder Support Team: information on the SEN reforms in Pathfinder areas, resources to support implementation, including Information packs that are updated regularly: http://www.sendpathfinder.co.uk/
•
Council for Disabled Children, Strategic Reform Partner: advice to government on the reforms, including advice from children and young people themselves through EPIC; information on key aspects of the reforms; support to the disabled children’s sector to develop new and sustainable approaches.
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EPIC: http://www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/epic
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CDC: http://www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/what-we-do/strategic-reform-partnerwork
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Department for Education: Information on organisations providing support to implementation: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/send/
changingsen/a00218781/delivery-partners-and-grants
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cdc@ncb.org.uk | www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk | 0207 843 1900