Making sure the Special Educational Needs (SEN) of your child
are met in their mainstream school
At Suffolk County Council we recognise that every child is
individual and that they all develop at different rates; we support
a variety of teaching styles to give your child the best
opportunity to progress.
Some children may need extra help in order to make the progress
that you or their teachers expect; we provide extra help through
SEN resources.
Each school, playgroup or nursery has a Special Educational Needs
policy; they have a duty to inform you of your child’s special
needs and of any special provision being made.
Each school and setting has a Special Educational Needs coordinator
(SENCO). The SENCO will talk to you and other staff involved with
your child about their needs. The SENCO will advise and
support the school or setting and has responsibilities for
your child’s
- assessment(s)
- record of progress
- support (called School Action or School
Action Plus).
The SENCO will collect information about your child, including
information from you, your child and other people working with your
child. The school or setting will use this information to make an
Individual Education Plan (IEP) which sets out the action needed to
help your child make progress. This will be discussed fully with
you; your views about what will help your child to make progress
are very important. The IEP will include:
- the short term targets set for or by your
child;
- teaching methods;
- any additional support or equipment;
- when the plan is to be reviewed.
The IEP is reviewed at least twice a year. Wherever possible
your child will be involved in reviewing process and setting
targets. If your child is not involved, their wishes should be
considered in the process.
If your child goes on to make good progress they may no longer need
SEN support.
A very small number of children will not make progress with the
help given. The SENCO will then discuss this with you, and others
already involved with your child to decide whether a statutory
assessment of SEN is needed.
You, your child’s school or both can make a request to the County
Council for a statutory assessment. A statutory assessment is a
comprehensive assessment which looks carefully at all aspects of
the child’s Special Educational Needs and aims to describe in
detail the provision that will be required to help meet those
needs.