Local policies, guidance and legislation
This page includes links to the main areas of Local Policy, Legislation and Guidance relating to Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and also the SEND Local Offer.
Useful information about SEND
Here are some documents that it may be useful for you to read.
Local SEND documents
Area SEND inspection of Stoke-on-Trent Local Area Partnership – February 2024
Stoke-on-Trent Annual Report 2026
Stoke-on-Trent Local Area SEND Partnership Improvement Plan
SEND Strategy for Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent Education Travel Assistance Policy and SEND Travel Assistance policy
SEND funding – SEND Local Offer (stoke.gov.uk)
Stoke-on-Trent Local Offer annual report March 2025
National SEND legislation and guidance
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Overview
Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010
Equality Act 2010: What do I need to know?
National Disability Strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice
SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years
SEND: guide for parents and carers
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults
The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: an easy read version
Parents, carers, children and young people
Young Person’s Guide to the Children and Families Act 2014 – Hyperlink to guide
This Young Persons Guide tells you what is in the Children and Families Act 2014, a new law that is very important for children. We think children and young people should know about new laws that will make a difference to their lives.
SEND: A Guide for Parents and Carers
A guide on the support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
SEND Support: Easy-Read Guide for Parents and Carers
Guide for parents with learning disabilities, explaining changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system.
SEND Support: Easy-Read Guide for Children and Young People
A guide for children and young people with learning disabilities on changes to the special needs educational and disability (SEND) system.
Ask, Listen, Do project – NHS England Easy Read Leaflet
This easy read leaflet provides information about the Ask Listen Do project which aims to make giving feedback and raising concerns easier for people with a learning disability, autism or both, their families and carers.
Building the Right Support - NHS England Easy Read Guide
NHS England works with other health and care organisations to look after the running of the NHS, including NHS services for people with a learning disability and/or autism. This guide is about a national plan for changing services in England.
Booklet 1 - Easy Read Improving Lives - The Future of Work Health and Disability
This government wants a country that works for everyone. This means having a country that helps everyone who lives in it. To do this we must help everyone who can to get a job, and stay in work.
Booklet 2 - Easy Read Improving Lives - The Future of Work Health and Disability
This booklet tells you about three things. • How we will help employers make healthy workplaces for everyone.
- How we will help people stay healthy and get good quality healthcare.
- Working together.
111 - The new NHS number.
The telephone number to call when you need medical help fast – but it’s not an emergency.
SENMAS Communication Pledge
We understand that being able to effectively communicate with SENMAS is important to our families and partners, and we are committed to making improvements in how we communicate with you
We promise that we will actively listen to you, ensuring that you have been understood and feel supported, so we are able to help you get the best outcome for your child.
We will always:
- Be friendly, approachable and helpful, responding to you fairly with consideration and respect.
- Communicate with you in an open and honest way, ensuring that we are clear on what you can expect from us, and explaining our decisions and the reasons for them.
- Make adjustments to meet your individual needs, when we are made aware of them, and try wherever we can to communicate with you in the method you prefer.
- Do what we say we are going to do, when we say we will, and provide updates on progress when appropriate.
- Provide clear and accurate information, avoiding the use of acronyms and unnecessary jargon.
- Sensitively and confidentially handle your information, keeping it safe and secure.
- Explain fully what has happened if something goes wrong and do our best to assist you to find a resolution.
- Let you know if we are not able to assist you and direct you to other organisations that might be able to help.
- Make it easy for you to provide feedback, which we will use to help us improve and develop our services.
You have pledged:
- I will try to be more understanding.
- I will not shout at staff when I become cross.
- I will always be polite.
- I will provide feedback about my experience.
How we will respond to you:
Email contact
All incoming email enquiries into senmas@stoke.gov.uk will be responded to within five working days.
All incoming email enquiries to individual staff members will be acknowledged within five working days.
In the case of staff absence, all incoming email enquiries to individual staff members will receive an automatic out-of-office reply, redirecting you to an alternative contact.
Telephone contact
All incoming telephone enquiries to the duty telephone number 01782 231 863 (available between 9.30am – 3.30pm Monday to Friday) will be responded to within five working days , when a message is left.
All incoming telephone enquiries to individual staff members will be acknowledged within five working days.
In the case of staff absence, all incoming telephone enquiries to individual staff members will receive an automatic voicemail reply, redirecting you to an alternative contact.
Postal contact
You can contact us by post at: SENMAS, Hazel Trees, Duke Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 3NR.
All incoming post to this address will be acknowledged within five working days of receipt.
Education Panel
Education Panel meets weekly. All submissions must be made to the Panel Coordinator by 12 noon, one week before the next Panel date.
All decisions will be shared within five working days via telephone or email and followed up with a response by letter if required.
Compliments, comments and complaints
If you feel you need further assistance after speaking to your allocated SEN Case Officer or their Senior SEN Case Officer, you can ask to speak to the SEND Compliance Officer who will discuss your concerns before you decide if you wish to send in a formal complaint.
Email sendcustomerfeedback@stoke.gov.uk and they will arrange a call with you at your convenience.
We may not accept complaints where there is a right of appeal or an active appeal, as this is covered by alternative procedures.
The Complaints, Comments and Compliments Procedure is available on the Council’s website: Complaints, comments and compliments procedure
You can submit a compliment, comment or complaint via an online form, available on the Council’s website: Feedback/Information Request Form.