Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Assessments
The Education Act 1996 states, ‘a child has “special educational needs” if he or she has a learning difficulty which calls for special educational needs provision to be made for him or her’.
A child has a learning difficulty if he or she:
- A. Has significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age.
- B. Has a disability, which either prevents or hinders the child from making use of educational facilities of a kind provided for children of the same age in schools, within the area of the local authority.
- C. Is under compulsory school age and falls within the definition at (A) or (B) above or would do if special educational provision was not made for the child.
In accordance with the Education Act 1996 it is our statutory duty to carry out formal assessments of children with special educational needs.
On receipt of a parental request for a statutory assessment, we request information from all relevant agencies.
Within 6 weeks of receipt of the request, we must decide whether to comply with the request and advise the parents/carers accordingly.
In the case of a child under the age of 2 years, an assessment shall be made in such a manner as we consider appropriate.
In all cases, we will notify the parents/carers of their right of appeal to an independent tribunal against our decision.
The Code of Practice sets out a three-stage assessment procedure. Certain principles are central to the Code:
- The provision for a child with special educational needs should match the nature of his or her needs.
- There should be careful recording of a child’s special educational needs, the action taken and the outcomes.
- Consideration should be given to the wishes and feelings of the child.
- There should be close consultation and partnership with the child’s parents/carers.
- Outside specialists should be involved, particularly in the stage preceding any referral to the LEA for a statutory assessment.
On completion of a formal assessment the LEA may prepare a statement which will
- identify the child's special educational needs
- specify the provision necessary to meet those needs
- and determine the appropriate placement, which maybe in a special school or unit.
All statements will have a statutory annual review and a formal re-assessment will be undertaken by us if deemed necessary.
|Back to topFurther Information
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Children and Young People's Service
South Podium Floor
River Park House
225 High Road
London
N22 8HQ
Tel 020 8489 1913
Fax 020 8489 3792
Email sen@haringey.gov.uk.
Attached Files
| Filename | Filetype | Size |
|---|---|---|
special educational needs.pdf  | 79 KB | |
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