Special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND)
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Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is a term used across the 0 to 25 years age range. SEND can affect a child or young person's ability to learn, and they may need additional or different arrangements that support their learning. There are two levels of support for children and young people with SEND who have additional needs:
Special Educational Needs (SEN) support
SEND support means support that is extra to, or different from, the support generally made for other children of the same age in a school. It is provided for pupils who are identified as having a learning difficulty or a disability that requires extra or different help to what is normally provided as part of the school's usual curriculum offer.
Education, health, and care plans (EHCP)
An EHCP may be issued for a pupil who needs more support than is available through SEND support. This will follow a statutory assessment process whereby the local authority considers the pupil's special educational needs and any relevant health and social care needs.
The SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years - GOV.UK is statutory guidance which outlines the duties of health, social care and education to identify all children and young people with SEND in their local area, and to work together to ensure provision is in place to meet their needs and improve their outcomes.
The code of practice outlines four broad areas of need:
- Communication and Interaction (C and I)
- Cognition and Learning (C and L)
- Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH)
- Sensory and or Physical needs
Learn more about SEND on the What are Special Educational Needs (SEN)? - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council webpage.
Every area, like Stockton-on-Tees, has something called a SEND Local Offer. This is a list of all the services and information that can help children with SEND. It is there for families to find out what kind of help is available in their area. The Children and Families Act 2014 made this something that every council must provide.
