We hope that most children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can be supported to access mainstream schools or education settings.
They may need extra support if they find learning more difficult than their peers, so their school might create a plan of tailored support for them so they can make progress and achieve their potential.
If you think your child might need some extra support we have provided some guidance on approaching your school for help.
Teachers are responsible for all pupils’ learning within their classes, and they will be supported by the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) who leads and coordinates a school’s provision for children and young people with SEND. Schools can choose to support children with SEND in any way that will help, including through adaptive teaching in the classroom, small group teaching and support from an additional adult at times during the day.
Depending on the child’s needs they may receive support from external advisory teachers or services. This may be through visits or support given to staff at the pupil’s school.
Some groups of schools work as federations or trusts, which means they share resources and knowledge in order to support each other and help children with SEND.
What all schools should do to support SEND
We expect all schools, colleges and education settings in Devon to:
- have a clear approach to identifying and responding to SEN
- do everything they can to ensure your child gets the support they need, so they can progress and achieve their goals
- prevent discrimination and promote equality by supporting your child to take part in the same activities as their classmates
- inform you of any SEND support or assessments for your child
- employ a qualified SENDCo
- make reasonable adjustments (changes) for disabled children so they can access the setting
- publish their arrangements for supporting pupils with SEND*
*Each school should publish an annual SEN Information report that includes information about how they identify and support children and young people with SEN in their setting. You should be able to find this on the school website.
Further information about support in schools
Find out more about the support all children and young people should expect at school and also how schools provide support for the four areas of SEND need.
Schools, colleges and education settings must provide support for pupils to access exams and other assessments.
We also work with schools to support pupils who are unable to attend school due to medical conditions.
Who to contact for advice
If you need advice and guidance about your child’s support in school, there are lots of organisations that can help you.
All local authorities must, by law, provide an information, advice and support service for SEND. This is an impartial, confidential and free service for parents, children and young people, and provides advice about all aspects of SEND support. In Devon, this service is called DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support).
If the support in school isn’t working for your child or young person or if you need to raise concerns or make a complaint, we have information about how you can do that here.
Information about each academy and maintained school in Devon can be found on the individual school’s website. This information should include details about the SEND support the school offers. The duties education settings have are set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, 0-25, Code of Practice.
The Council for Disabled Children has produced a guide to schools’ responsibilities to children and young people with disabilities which may also be useful.