What is SEND?
Special Education Needs (SEN)
Children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children and young people of the same age. These children and young people may need extra or different help to others.
Many children and young people may have SEN of some kind during their education. Education settings like nurseries, schools and colleges can help most children and young people succeed with some changes to their practice or additional support. But some will need extra help for some or all of their time in education and training.
If you would like to understand more about how your child could be identified as having Special Educational Needs and the support they will receive visit Somerset Choices: SEND-Effective-Support.pdf
Disability
Many children and young people who have SEN may also have a disability. A disability is described in law (the Equality Act 2010) as ‘a physical or mental impairment, which has a long-term (a year or more) and substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.’ This includes, for example, sensory impairments such as those that affect sight and hearing, and long-term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy.
The Equality Act requires that early years providers, schools, colleges, other educational settings and local authorities:
- must not treat a disabled pupil less favourably simply because that pupil is disabled - for example by having an admission bar on disabled applicants.
- must not directly or indirectly discriminate against, harass or victimise disabled children and young people
- must make reasonable adjustments, including the provision of extra aid services (for example, tactile signage, induction loops, adaptive keyboards and special software), so that disabled children and young people are not disadvantaged. This duty is known as ‘anticipatory’. People also need to think in advance about what disabled children and young people might need.
Somerset's Local Offer
It is a statutory requirement of all local authorities to publish a ‘Local offer’, showing the support available to all children and young people with SEND and their families.
The Local Offer provides information on the services available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged between 0 to 25 and how to access them.
It is co-produced by parent carers, young people, services and providers
All aspects of services in the Somerset Local Offer should be developed in partnership with parent carers, young people and practitioners in both agencies and the voluntary sector.
It empowers parent carers, young people, services and providers
Our Local Offer should empower parent carers, young people and practitioners by setting out clearly what can be expected locally, how to access services and where to find more information.
It is accessible
Parent carers should be able to find our Local Offer easily and understand the content. It should involve clear and jargon-free language and provide information on where to find extra support.
It is holistic
The Somerset Local Offer is for children and their families and young people up to the age of 25. It will have some information about services from Education (including early years settings, mainstream and special schools and colleges, training and employment support),
It is transparent
The Local Offer will indicate the routes to access services and support. There will be an explanation of how decisions are made and by whom.
It is sustainable and sustained
There will be clear arrangements for feedback from users. This will help in recognising gaps in provision, limitations in services, and help identify future alternatives to address needs.
www.somerset.gov.uk/education-and-families/somersets-local-offer/
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