The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

Gareth D Morewood

SEND information for your school website – confirmation and clarification

Since the launch of the Code, there has been a lot of misinformation regarding the Local Offer and what schools are required to publish.

In this post, I want to confirm the information that schools need to ensure is included in the SEN information report on their websites.

Information to include

  1. The kinds of special educational needs for which provision is made at the school.
  2. Information, in relation to mainstream schools and maintained nursery schools, about the school’s policies for the identification and assessment of students with special educational needs.
  3. Information about the school’s policies for making provision for students with special educational needs whether or not students have EHC Plans, including:
    • how the school evaluates the effectiveness of its provision for such students
    • the school’s arrangements for assessing and reviewing the progress of students with special educational needs
    • the school’s approach to teaching students with special educational needs
    • how the school adapts the curriculum and learning environment for students with special educational needs
    • additional support for learning that is available to students with special educational needs
    • how the school enables students with special educational needs to engage in the activities of the school (including physical activities) together with children who do not have special educational needs
    • support that is available for improving the emotional, mental and social development of students with special educational needs.
  4. In relation to mainstream schools and maintained nursery schools, the name and contact details of the SENCO.
  5. Information about the expertise and training of staff in relation to children and young people with special educational needs and about how specialist expertise will be secured.
  6. Information about how equipment and facilities to support children and young people with special educational needs will be secured.
  7. The arrangements for consulting parents of children with special educational needs about, and involving such parents in, the education of their child.
  8. The arrangements for consulting young people with special educational needs about, and involving them in, their education.
  9. Any arrangements made by the governing body or the proprietor relating to the treatment of complaints from parents of students with special educational needs concerning the provision made at the school.
  10. How the governing body involves other bodies, including health and social services bodies, local authority support services and voluntary organisations, in meeting the needs of students with special educational needs and in supporting the families of such students
  11. The contact details of support services for the parents of students with special educational needs, including those for arrangements made in accordance with section 32.
  12. The school’s arrangements for supporting students with special educational needs in a transfer between phases of education or in preparation for adulthood and independent living.
  13. Information on where the local authority’s Local Offer is published.

There was always a duty on schools to provide information for parents/carers about provision; this list should help colleagues explain clearly what provision is made at individual schools and support open and transparent communication with regard to SEND arrangements from September.

Further guidance

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