Code of Practice
When it comes to your child and his or her educational needs, the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice is where you (and your school or nursery) need to begin. As one mum put it: "From now on, this should be your Bible!"
All schools and educational settings must adhere to the SEN Code of Practice. The code (sometimes referred to as the SEN COP) provides a common approach to identifying and providing for all children's special needs.
The government has published a green paper called Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability.
Among other things, it proposes replacing statements with education and health care plans drawn up after a single, streamlined assessment, getting voluntary groups involved in the assessment process and giving parents a personal budget to spend on services.
The consultation runs until 30 June 2011.
To read the green paper and have your say, go to www.education.gov.uk/consultations
This applies both to schools and also to early education settings such as nursery schools and pre-schools.
"It would be very useful for you to obtain a copy of the SEN Code of Practice (SEN COP). That lays down what schools should do in the way of SEN support and also details the processes involved. The more knowledge you have about SEN support in school the better you will be able to support your child by fighting for what she requires and is entitled to." WetAugust
The code stresses the importance of working in partnership with parents wherever possible. It also stresses the importance of the child's input and participation in his or her education decisions.
"The SEN COP is a government-issued code of practice and in theory every local authority should measure using the same criteria. It's a nice weighty document and good for hitting officials round the head with when all else fails!" pickyvic
Nursery | School-age children | Statutory assessments | Statementing process and timeline | What an SEN says