A Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) sets out the child or young person's special educational needs (SEN), describes the provision and supports to help meet those needs, and the educational setting they should attend.
The Statement of SEN is reviewed every year to ensure the provision made continues to meet the child or young person’s needs.
The school will continue to have lead responsibility in providing support for the child or young person. This may be supplemented by input from EA SEN Services and/or Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust where relevant, as well as specific provisions which may be funded by the Education Authority (EA).
What is in a statement of Special Educational Needs?
A Statement of Special Educational Needs will include
Part 1: Introduction
- Name/date of birth/home address.
- Information on parental responsibility for the child/young person.
Part 2: Special Educational Needs
- The Education Authority’s assessment of the child’s special educational needs, in terms of the child’s learning difficulties which call for special educational provision.
Part 3: Special Educational Provision Other Than Placement
- The objectives which the special educational provision for the child should aim to meet.
- Details of the special educational provision which the Education Authority considers appropriate to meet the child/young person’s need(s)
- Arrangements to be made for monitoring progress.
Part 4: Placement
- The type of school the EA considers most appropriate (special or mainstream).
- Name of the school which parent(s) prefer(s).
or
- The provision other than at school which the EA considers appropriate
Part 5: Non-Educational Needs
- Any non-educational needs which the EA considers appropriate, in order for the child/young person to benefit properly from the special educational provision detailed in Part 3.
Part 6: Non-Educational Provision
- Any non-educational provision which the EA proposes to make available or which it is satisfied that will be made available by a Health and Social Services authority.
- The objectives for the provision.
- Arrangements for monitoring progress of the provision.
Appendix A: Parental Advice
Appendix B: Educational Advice
Appendix C: Medical Advice
Appendix D: Psychological Advice
Appendix E: Social Services Advice
Appendix F: Other Advice obtained by the EA
What is special educational provision?
Some examples of extra provisions or supports determined by the EA may include:
- appropriate facilities,
- specific equipment,
- staffing arrangements to support your child,
- additional adult assistance, and/or
- specialist teaching support.
Annual Review
When the EA issues a final Statement of Special Educational Needs for a child/young person, the EA must review the Statement every 12 months. This is to ensure that the needs of the young person are still being met and to consider if the placement is still appropriate.
The school/educational setting at which a child attends carries out the Annual Review on behalf of the EA.
The Annual Review provides an opportunity for parents/carers and the child/young person to give their thoughts, views and opinions and to ask questions and find out information from everyone involved.
Transition Planning
Transition is a time of change when a young person, with the support of their family and carers, makes decisions as to which path to follow as they move from educational provision to adult life.
The Transition planning process will usually begin when a young person moves into Year 10/14+.