Education and SEND support

All schools must identify children who have special educational needs. They should take steps to remove barriers to learning and put effective special educational provisions in place using the graduated approach.

Schools must work together with parents and follow a four-stage approach as shown below:

1. Assess – Settings should assess the child's needs to establish what the barriers are to their learning and development. This could include the involvement of external agencies, such as the Educational Psychologist or Speech and Language Therapist. Settings will complete an Early Help Assessment (EHA).
2. Plan – Settings should plan with relevant external professionals, children, and families what support is required to meet their special educational needs or disability. This should be in the form of a plan which includes the outcomes, interventions, and provisions.
3. Do – Settings should put in place the agreed support/interventions required.
4. Review – Settings should review the support/interventions three times each year. This process will involve both the child/young person and their parent(s)/carer(s).

If there are longer-term greater needs, schools should develop an SEN support plan.