Special Educational Needs or Disability Local Offer
Children and Families Act 2014
As part of the Children and Families Bill, the Government is transforming the system for children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disability [SEND], including those who are disabled, so that services consistently support the best outcomes for them. The Bill has extended the SEND system from birth to 25, giving children, young people and their parents/carers greater control and choices in decisions and ensuring needs are properly met.
Changes affecting SEND in schools are:
What is the Local Offer?
All Dudley maintained schools have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and are supported by the Local Authority to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school. All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with a Special Educational Need/s being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible, where families want this to happen.
What will we do?
The Local Offer will provide parents/carers with information about how to access services in their area and what they can expect from these services. With regard to Education, it will let parents/carers and young people know how schools and colleges will support them, and what they can expect across the local settings.
From September 1st 2014 schools are required to provide SEND information to parents and carers to enable them to make decisions about how to best support their child’s needs.