Your Guide to Primary Education in Leicestershire

The Children and Young People’s Service works closely with other services to make sure that children have any special help that they need.

All schools will have a teacher with particular responsibility for special educational needs called a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). Most secondary schools have special educational needs staff who can support those with learning difficulties either within the class or in a smaller group.

In transfer arrangements within families of schools, extra attention is given to those pupils with special needs; for instance, getting to know new staff who may be giving extra help.

 

Schools watch the progress of all children carefully and will usually be aware if a child has special educational needs. The school must tell you when they first start giving your child extra or different help from the other pupils. In schools this extra help is called “School Action”. The teacher or Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) should keep letting you know how your child is progressing. They should consult your child and listen to your views. If your child does not make enough progress the teacher or SENCO should talk to you about seeking advice from people outside the school. This kind of help is called “School Action Plus”.

 

A Statement of SEN is for a small minority of pupils with significant and complex special educational needs who may or may not need a place in a special school or unit. The 1996 Education Act sets out the legal framework for this process. Full details are given to parents when an assessment is proposed.

This formal assessment allows you and all the people involved in your child’s education to take a careful look at your child’s needs and how they might be met. If, as a result, a Statement of SEN is issued, this will provide a clear view of the best way of providing for your child, and describe how the Local Authority will ensure that those needs are met.

This might be by targeting school facilities or staff in his/her school or by the offer of a place in a special school or unit. The admission of a child with a Statement of SEN to a school is the responsibility of the Local Authority. The arrangements described earlier in this booklet about choosing a school will not apply although every effort will be made to meet parents’ wishes.

Your child’s needs may change and so the Statement will be reviewed, at least annually, to make sure that the right help continues to be provided by the school.

 

The SEN and Disability Act 2001 adds a new Part IV to the Disability Discrimination Act to prevent discrimination against disabled people in their access to education.

The Act places two new responsibilities on schools from September 2002:

The Act places similar responsibilities on the Local Authority.

 

The SEN and Disability Act 2005 places a duty to promote disability equality. This requires schools and LA’s to:

The Act requires schools and LA’s to publish a Disability Equality Scheme (DES).

Many but not all pupils with Statements of SEN will have a “disability”. Many children who do not have statements may be “disabled”.

If you feel your child is being discriminated against on the grounds of disability by a school you should first raise this with a senior member of staff or the Headteacher.

There is a right of appeal against unlawful discrimination to the SEN and Disability Tribunal from September 2002.

The Disability Rights Commission has produced a Code of Practice for Schools. You can contact the Disability Rights Commission Helpline on 08457 622 633.

 

Talk first to the Headteacher. If you need further advice contact:

Parent Partnership Service
Bungalow 1
Blaby Stokes Primary
Queens Road
Blaby
Leics LE8 4EG
Tel: 0116 2752097. Email: parent-partnership-service@leics.gov.uk

The Parent Partnership Service is an impartial, confidential service, which supports parents/carers of children and young people with special educational needs.

They support parents/carers of children aged 0-19 years with any educational issue. The child/young person does not need to have a statement of SEN, or a medical diagnosis of disability.

The service can help in a number of ways:

Please contact the Parent Partnership Service for further information.