SEND support
Pupils who continue to face challenges in learning, even with differentiation and high-quality teaching, may need SEND Support – this is help that is different, or more than the help that most children receive. Some children will need very little help and some will need significant support and adjustments. Where a setting, including a maintained nursery school makes special educational provision for a child with SEN they must inform the parents/main carers. The SENCO will help you understand what help your child needs and what is being done at school. They will work with you, the teachers and teaching assistants to support your child.
SEND support follows a cycle know as ‘Assess, Plan, Do, Review’ and is part of the Graduated Approach. There is much more information about the Graduated Approach here.
Assess, Plan, Do, Review
It is a ‘graduated approach’ because it might take several cycles of trying different strategies and interventions before a child’s needs are properly understood and supported. The school or setting may need to involve the help of external professionals.
Assess
The child’s needs must be identified so that the right support can be given. This should involve:
- Asking the views of the child or young person and their parents/carers.
- Carrying out assessments and tracking progress made.
- Talking to all the professionals who work with the child or young person.
Plan
- The school/setting and the parents/carers agree on the outcomes the SEND support aims for.
- Everyone involved has a say in deciding what sort of support will be provided.
- A date for review is decided.
- The plan is written down and shared with everyone involved.
Do
- The school/setting puts the planned support into place.
- Everyone invoved will work closely together.
- The class teacher/keyworker will be responsible for working with the child daily.
Review
On the date agreed, the SEND support will be reviewed to decide:
- Whether the support is having a positive impact.
- Whether the agreed outcomes are being/have been achieved.
- Whether the support needs to continue, or if a different support plan needs to be agreed.
The assess, plan, do, review cycle starts again.
It is important to understand that a child does not require a diagnosis to receive SEND support.
Support may include:
- Time with a teacher or teaching assistant (TA) individually or in a small group.
- A special programme of work
- Support from assistive technology or from the use of particular equipment.
If more, expert help is needed, your child’s setting can request support from our SEND support services. You can find more information here: SEND support services – SEND Local Offer (stoke.gov.uk)
Most children with SEND have their needs met with SEND Support in a mainstream school. An education, health and care (EHC) plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who have complex special educational needs and disabilities and who need more support than is available through SEND support. Where this is the case, the school, the parent or carer, or the young person can request an education, health and care needs assessment (EHC needs assessment).
Find out more about EHC needs assessments.