Special educational needs and disability
It is the ambition of the special educational needs (SEN) and disability division that every child with special educational needs reaches their full potential in school, and can make a successful transition to adulthood and the world of further and higher education, training or work.
To promote the welfare and interests of disabled children, and to improve the support they receive, this area of the site provides a wide range of SEN and disability advice and materials for teachers, parents and others working with children with SEN in England.
Among others, this site may prove valuable for parents, carers, schools, SEN governors, teachers, professionals and learning assistants.
Latest news
May 2008: Revised guidance on the education of children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) as a special educational need is now available. It is intended to help schools and local authorities consider what support and provision are most likely to help remove barriers to the achievement, health and emotional well-being of children and young people with BESD.
April 2007: Please take our user-survey and help improve this website. Thank you.
March 2007: Promoting disability equality in schools: workshops for primary schools, special schools and pupil referral units
Promoting disability equality in schools is a new section of Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in schools and early years settings. It explains to schools how to develop their Disability Equality Schemes.
In the summer term, the DCSF is holding a series of workshops for primary schools, special schools and pupil referral units. Attendees should include members of schools' senior management teams, governors and officers in local authorities with responsibility for supporting schools in meeting the Disability Equality Duty (DED).
The workshops are free and lunch will be provided, but delegates will need to meet all other expenses themselves such as travel.
Delegates will benefit most from the event by bringing their current accessibility plans with them and details of any early work on their disability equality schemes. During the workshops, delegates will have the opportunity to use criteria to assess the extent to which they are meeting the requirements of a scheme. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions during the day. Clips from the DVDs in the resource Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in schools and early years settings will also be shown.
To register for an event follow the link www.pauljamesassociates.co.uk/login.htm.
Use conference code: 975837 and password: pdes.
Alternatively, email the conference organisers at pdes@pauljamesassociates.co.uk or phone 0115 943 5589.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Joining instructions, including an outline programme and location map, will be sent prior to the event.
Workshop dates
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8/06/07 East Midlands: Holiday Inn City, Leicester
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11/06/07 South West: Holiday Inn, Taunton
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18/06/07 East of England: Newmarket Race Course, Newmarket
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26/06/07 Yorkshire and the Humber: Holiday Inn, Harrogate
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2/07/07 North East: Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle
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11/07/07 West Midlands: Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham
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18/07/07 London: Paddington Hilton Hotel, London.
Carol Foster-Middleton from the Department for Work and Pensions will attend some of the events to talk about research she is doing for a PhD. She intends to do a small case study of around six primary schools looking at how they are implementing the new public sector duty and developing their disability equality schemes. Carol is keen to talk to people at the event about any issues they have in relation to the new duty. The study will last three to four years, starting from this year.Carol can be contacted at the event, by email: carol.foster-middleton@dwp.gsi.gov.uk, or by phone on 020 7712 2157.
Members of the DCSF with an interest in workforce issues will be attending the first London event and the events in Manchester, Birmingham and Harrogate to discuss the collection of disability data on the school workforce.
All schools that have ordered their copy of Implementing the Disability and Discrimination Act in schools and early years settings resource were sent a copy of the DED guidance in December 2006. Subsequently, anyone who orders the DDA resource will receive this new DED section with it.
The materials can help schools to:
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Understand their duties under the different Parts of the DDA
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Raise awareness of the Duty
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Develop their scheme through a staged approach
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Develop their accessibility plan to meet the requirements of a scheme
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Provide training and development activities on the Duty
Jan 2007: The Implementation Review Unit's (IRU) statement on SEN and disability — meeting need, minimising bureaucracy
The Implementation Review Unit (IRU) is the first ever independent scrutiny unit with a remit to cut red tape and reduce bureaucracy in schools. A report issued by the IRU examines ways in which schools and local authorities can fulfil their legal obligations in supporting children with SEN, while minimising paperwork and bureaucracy.
The report explains:
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The legal obligations on schools in relation to children with SEN and disability
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The flexibilities available to schools and local authorities
It makes clear that schools and local authorities can adopt working practices which:
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Avoid the need for schools to write and review Individual Education Plans
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Avoid local authorities asking schools to provide information which has been previously provided, where a school can confirm it remains valid
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Combine planning, funding, delivery and accountability processes that maximise the range, quality and relevance of local provision while reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
The IRU advice for schools is that legally compliant practice on SEN and disability varies. Some is more effective and less bureaucratic than others. If you best practice is not used in your area discuss the matter with your local authority.
Oct 2006: The Government's response to the Education and Skills Select
Committee report on Special Educational Needs
The Government's response to the Education and Skills Select Committee report on special educational needs was published on October 11 2006. A copy of the response can be found here.
Links
Subscribe to the SEN and disability update
Special educational needs Scotland
Special educational needs Wales
Special educational needs Northern Ireland
Contact the SEN team at the DCSF by email: sen.queries@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Last updated: 6 May 2008
