Services in special educational needs (305)

  1. Exclusions - Information for parents

    The decision to exclude a pupil is a very serious matter and should only be used as a last resort. Only the head teacher can exclude once they have carried out a thorough investigation. Find further information on types of exclusion, what happens next if…
  2. How is my child with SEND supported in school?

    Around 5,000 children and young people in Islington have identified Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and most of these are supported in their local mainstream school or Early Years setting. The majority of children and young people will have their needs met through additional…
  3. SEN Support in Islington - Behaviour Handbook

    The Behaviour Handbook for Islington schools outlines approaches and interventions which encourage and allow inclusion and reduce the risk of exclusion. Within the universal offer, which underpins the layers of support and intervention, is an understanding and ethos which supports the ideals of inclusion. It…
  4. SEND Outcomes Framework

    Focus on outcomes All plans should be written in collaboration with, parents, children and young people. They should be outcomes driven. Plans should not be about input determined by a professional, but have has the child / young person at the centre, with the child…
  5. SEND Outreach Services

    SEND Outreach Services are commissioned on behalf of Islington’s mainstream schools to an agreed service specification. Their role is to improved outcomes for all children and young people with SEND by helping schools to increase their capacity to meet a wider range of needs. The…
  6. Provision Mapping

    What is a provision map? A provision map is a management tool providing an 'at a glance' way of documenting and showing the range of interventions, additional staffing and support that a school makes available Provision maps enable schools to look strategically at the needs…
  7. Workforce Development for SEND

    The SENCO and the class teachers should decide on the action needed to help the child to progress in the light of their earlier assessment. There is sometimes an expectation that this help will take the form of the deployment of extra staff to enable…
  8. ‘Waves of Intervention’ – Quality First Teaching

    The Waves of Intervention Model The 'Waves of Intervention' model (national Strategies) describes how different levels of intervention can be understood and systematically implemented. Wave 1 (Universal): describes quality inclusive teaching which takes into account the learning needs of all the children in the classroom.…
  9. English as an Additional Language (EAL) and SEND

    ‘Difficulties related solely to learning English as an additional language are not SEN’ SEND Code of Practice Although some children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) will also have SEND, the great majority will not. Data shows that pupils with EAL often make rapid…
  10. Quality Assurance

    The Council ensures effective quality assurance (QA) of provision for children with SEND before and during the delivery of provision. The Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on LAs to improve the quality of provision for children with SEND. The Code of Practice says…
  11. Pupil Premium

    What is the Pupil Premium? The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 to raise the attainment of disadvantaged children and young people (i.e. those eligible for free school meals nationally). The national allocation to schools is £2.4 billion in 2017/18 (£15 million to Islington).…
  12. Analysing and Using SEND Data

    Data collection and analysis are essential elements in developing a more ‘forensic’ approach to removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and supporting the setting of realistic and stretching targets for SEND pupils. SEN Code of Practice The effective use of data helps to support the…
  13. Further Education and SEND

    Since 1 September 2014, the above institutions have had a duty to: Co-operate with the LA on arrangements for young people with SEND Admit a young person if the institution is named in an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan Have regard to the SEND…
  14. Personal Budgets Explained

    The aim of Personal Budgets is to increase an individual’s independence and choice by giving them control over the way services they receive are delivered. A Personal Budget is a sum of money that a family can use to spend in a way that they…
  15. Single Route of Redress - National Trial

    In line with Schedule 2 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 all local areas in England are required to publish details in their local offers for ‘notifying parents and young people of their right to appeal a decision of the local authority…
  16. SEN Governance in Islington

    The process of governance (or making policies and monitoring how effective they are) takes place at various levels across the Council. The SEN Governance Map provides details of all the Boards and groups which all contribute to the governance of SEN provision for children and young people…
  17. Early Years SEN Funding Panel

    The purpose of additional SEND Funding Many children with special educational needs and disability may benefit from additional support/intervention. In the first instance this must be organised by the early years setting where existing provision resources and other non-financial support currently available from other external…
  18. Disability Access Fund, DAF

    Disability Access Fund, DAF, is paid to providers with 3 and 4-year-olds who are accessing free early education. It is available for each child who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, DLA, and is a one-off payment to the provider of £615 per child. DAF…
  19. Our Vision for Children with SEND

    Our vision is that every child and young person with SEND in Islington to have the opportunity to: Be happy, healthy, safe and confident about their future Become successful, resilient adults who achieve their aspirations in all aspects of their lives  Live fulfilling lives in…
  20. Prevalence of SEND in Islington schools

    According to the Summer Term 2017 School Census, there were 4,618 children in Islington schools with a SEND (18.5% of all Islington pupils). 3.6% of children in Islington schools had an Education, Health and Care Plan. Both figures are higher than national, London and statistical…
  21. Children and Families Act 2014

    The main requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 are as follows: The age range 0-25 years is covered, ensuring legal protections can continue as young people leave school and move into college/further education and apprenticeships. Education, Health and Social Care services must work…
  22. Islington SEND Parent Parliament

    When parents and professionals work together, recognising each-others expert knowledge, better decision are made. Working together helps: Professionals understand how to develop and deliver services to meet the needs of children and families Parents to understand some of the difficulties faced by those who arrange…
  23. Special School Admission Information

    Most children and young people with SEN are educated in mainstream schools. Each mainstream school in Islington is supported by the Outreach teams linked to the local special schools. Their role is to build the skills, knowledge and capacity of mainstream schools to make sure…
  24. First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disability)

    The Tribunal (part of the First-tier Tribunal [Health, Education and Social Care Chamber]) hears appeals against decisions made by Local Authorities in relation to children’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and plans. It also hears disability discrimination claims against schools.
  25. Mediation

    Mediation must be available to any parent or young person who is not happy with the final version of their Education Health and Care Plan. (Any disagreement about anything else is open to disagreement resolution, not mediation). Level 1 – Mediation Advice Access to mediation…
  26. Disagreement Resolution

    Any disagreement regarding special educational needs assessment or provision should try to be resolved through disagreement resolution. This could be between parents/young people with schools, colleges or the Local Authority. The Local Authority must make disagreement resolution services available to parents and young people. Disagreement…
  27. Team Around the Child

    A Team Around the Child (TAC) is a multi-disciplinary team of practitioners established on a case-by-case basis to support a child, young person or family. TACs support good professional practice in joined-up working, information sharing and early intervention. The model involves: A joined-up assessment, usually…
  28. Measuring progress for children with SEND

    The progress of all groups of children has been a prominent issue for all schools since the introduction of the 2012 Ofsted inspection framework. Parents also want to see evidence of progress. The issue of showing progress is particularly challenging for children with special educational…
  29. Preparing for adulthood EHC Plan reviews

    All EHC Reviews taking place from Year 9 and onwards must include a focus on preparing for adulthood, including employment, independent living and participation in society. This transition planning must be built into the EHC plan and where relevant should include effective planning for young…
  30. What does an Educational Psychologist do?

    Educational Psychologists work with children and young people between the ages of 0 and 25 years who are residents of Islington or who attend Islington schools. They work in a range of educational settings including children’s centres, early years’ settings, mainstream primary and secondary schools,…
  31. Supporting pupils with medical conditions

    The Children and Families Act 2014 (Section 100) placed a new statutory requirement on schools to make arrangements for supporting children with medical conditions, supported by related guidance Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions.  
  32. School Attendance and SEND

    Despite progress in recent years, both primary and secondary phases in Islington currently perform poorly in terms of school attendance in comparison with statistical neighbours. Children with SEND have higher patterns of non‐attendance; our aim is at least 96% attendance for all children. In 2016‐17,…
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