|
Page 2 of 3
The Authority will then confirm the statement and send a copy to the parents, the Headteacher of the child's school and to the professionals who have submitted reports.
If parents disagree with the statement, there is a formal appeals procedure. Information about this is sent with the statement.
A total of 26 weeks is the legal length of time for the whole procedure. The 1994 Regulations set out the timetable for the assessment process:-
- 6 weeks - to consider whether an assessment is required
- 10 weeks - making the assessment and deciding on a statement
- 2 weeks - defining the proposed statement
- 8 weeks - finalising the statement
Total 26 weeks.
The school is then obliged to implement the conditions within the statement. This includes producing an Individual Education Plan for the child, setting out the targets and assessing progress. Parents are included in this. If the child is to receive, say 14 hours of classroom assistant time, then the school must employ a suitable person for that position.
The statement must be assessed annually.
Since writing this, there has been a new Code of Practise for SEN. This now needs to be taken into account. However the majority of the comments above are still relevent so I shall just add the new CoP details below:
The 5 Stages of a Special Needs Assessment
The Department for Education and Employment's 1994 Code of Practice outlines what a school should do if there are learning or behavioural difficulties with a child in school. This outline is called "stages of assessment" the stages of which are;
Stage One
The teachers or head of year tutor gathers information and identifies any particular special needs of the child and consults with the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator). The parent can also express the opinion that their child has special educational needs also.
Stage Two
The SENCO takes responsibility for any S.N.s (Special Needs) provision and draws up an individual education plan (IEP) in consultation with the parent and the child's teachers. This is a detailed plan targets for the child to achieve, along with a date for a review to see how much progress has been made.
Stage Three
The SENCO brings in specialists to advise, e.g. Educational Psychologist or specialist teacher. If the child is not making progress the SENCO or Headteacher will discuss with the parent whether to instruct the LEA (Local Education Authority) to make a statutory assessment, which is a thorough look at the child's deficits, strengths or learning difficulties to decide if different or extra educational help should be injected.
Stage Four
The LEA based on the information that has been gathered about the child looks at the request for statutory assessment. They may request more information before making any decision.
Stage Five
The LEA considers whether to issue a statement of Special Educational Needs and writes a statement of the help required and goals to be met. There is ongoing monitoring and reviews.
A parent has the right to ask for statutory assessment at any stage, although the LEA will look at any evidence to show that they have tried to help the child at the stage three before the statutory assessment can go ahead.
Requests for assessment are looked at by a panel made up of people with knowledge and experience of S.E.N.s. (Special Education Needs)
What a Statement of Educational Need Should Contain
A Statement of Educational Need must follow the format as set out by Government Regulations and must contain the following information in the six parts that make up a Statement of Educational Need. (8.29)
Part 1
Introduction: the child's name and address and date of birth. The child's home language and religion. The names and address (e.g.) of the child's parents.
|
