Education Introduction
Education for Children with Special Needs
Directorate of Learning and Children's Services
Guildhall 2
High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU
Telephone: 020 8547 4615/5254
Website: Special Education Needs
Making decisions about your child's education is a worry for all parents, but can seem particularly complex if your child has special educational needs (SEN). Often this is because of the wide range of people you come into contact with and the terminology and 'jargon' they use. But don't despair-there are people out there to help you, and all the services are committed to improving their practices so that they work most effectively and co-operatively with parents.
The following pages are intended only to be a brief guide to some of the issues you might face, some of the processes you might face, some of the processes you might become involved in and some of the services you might have contact with. If you do not find answers to all of your questions here, you should, at least, be able to find out where to go. At the end of this chapter is a list of useful contacts and guides/books. Other parents who have been through some of the same things as you can also be an invaluable source of help, even if their child's difficulties are different from yours.
If you do have questions or concerns, don't worry alone - Ask for Help, Information or Advice. The professionals you meet should be happy to answer any questions, or the section, in this chapter, on sources of help should point you in the right direction.
Parent Partnership Service
The Parent Partnership Service is now part of the Disabled Children's Information and Advice Service managed by EnhanceAble. The service has been set up as a source of impartial information, advice and support in educational matters, for all matters, for all parents of children with special educational needs.
Contact:
Moor Lane Centre
Moor Lane
Chessington
Surrey
KT9 2AA
Telephone: 020 8547 6200
Email: anne.frayda@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Website: www.enhanceable.org
What are Special Educational Needs?
Your child may have some difficulties, but how do you know if they have Special Educational Needs? Alternatively, your child may not have had difficulties until they reached school, but the school is expressing concerns, how do you know if they do have Special Educational Needs?
The term 'Special Educational Needs' has a legal definition. Children with SEN all...'have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children of the same age'.
These children may need extra or different help from that given to other children of the same age. This definition includes children who need extra help because of physical or sensory difficulties, emotional, social or behavioural difficulties, thinking and understanding difficulties, difficulties with speech and language or difficulties relating to other people.
This definition does not include children whose only difficulty is that English is not their first language, nor children who are exceptionally able. Many children will have special educational needs of some kind at some time during their education and some children will need extra help throughout their time at school.
What can I do if I am Worried?
If your child is very young and not yet in school or nursery- talk to your doctor or health visitor. If your child is in a pre-school nursery or a primary school-talk to the child's teacher, to the SENCO or to the Head teacher. If your child is in secondary school, talk to your child's class teacher, SENCO, Head of Year or Head Teacher.
Terminology and Jargon
If your child does have special educational needs, you will learn a whole new language about their education! This section will explain some of the terminology that you might come across, some initials that might be used and some definitions you might need.
- Assessment and Support for Learning
The department in the LEA which deals with statutory assessments, statements and annual reviews
- Annual Review
A compulsory yearly review of a statement of SEN
- BSS
Behaviour Support Services
- Normal of Practice
A guide for schools and LEAs, written by the DfEE, outlining the provision they should be making for all children with special needs, in line with the laws relating to these matters. A new Normal of Practice came into effect in January 2002 and schools and LEAs cannot ignore the advice given in 'the Normal'.
- DCSF
Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly the DfES)
- EPS
Educational Psychology Service
- IEP
Individual Education Plan
- IPS
Independent Parental Supporter- volunteer who can support parents
- LEA
Local Education Authority
- Mainstream school
Ordinary (non-specialist) schools for all children. These can be state schools or private schools.
- PPS
Parent Partnership Service
- S<
Speech and Language Therapy
- SEN
Special Educational Needs
- SENCO
School Special Needs Coordinator
- SENDisT
The SEN and Disability Tribunal - an independent body that hears parents appeals against LEAs' decisions about statutory assessments and statements, and appeals against LEAs and schools about disability discrimination.
- SIS
Social Inclusion Service
- SIT
Sensory Impairment Team
- Special School
Schools that are just for children with statements of SEN. These usually specialise in certain types of SEN.
- Statement
A legal document that sets out a child's educational needs and the extra provision they should get to meet those needs.
- Statutory Assessment
The process which gathers together information and advice from a range of people (parents, professionals and others) about your child's special educational needs and which may lead to a Statement of Special Educational Need.
Information sheets about many of the above are available from the Parent Partnership Service.