The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice

An introduction and full download link to the SEN Code of Practice.

The SEN Code of Practice The revised Code of Practice, was implemented in January 2002, and provides a framework for developing strong partnerships between parents, schools, local education authorities (LEAs) and health and social services. It promotes a consistent approach to meeting children's Special Educational Needs (SEN) and places the rights of children at the heart of the process, allowing them to be heard and to take part in the decision making process whenever possible. The focus is on ensuring that SEN are identified as quickly as possible. The SEN Code of Practice provides practical advice to LEAs, maintained schools, early education settings (nurseries) and others on carrying out their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for children's SEN.

All school and SEN providers have been given an SEN Toolkit, which is designed to provide practical day-to-day guidance on the same matters as the SEN Code of Practice and should be read in conjunction with it.

The Code is informed by general principles and should be read with them clearly in mind:

• a child with special needs should have his or her needs met;
• the special needs of children will normally be met in mainstream schools;
• the views of children should be sought and taken into account;
• parents have a vital role to play in supporting their child's education;
• children with SEN should be offered full access to a broad, balanced and relevant education, including an appropriate curriculum for the foundation stage and the National Curriculum (NC).

The Governing Bodies of maintained schools have important statutory duties towards pupils with SEN. The main ones are as follows:

• to decide the school's SEN policy and approach, setting up appropriate staffing and funding arrangements and oversee the school's work;
• to do its best to ensure that the necessary provision is made for any pupil who has a special need;
• to ensure that teachers in the school are aware of the importance of identifying and providing for those pupils who have SEN;
• to ensure that a pupil with SEN joins in the activities of the school, together with pupils who do not have SEN, as far as is reasonably practical and compatible with the child receiving the SEN provision, their learning needs call for the most effective education of the pupils with whom they are educated and the efficient use of resources;
• to report to parents on the implementation of the school's policy for pupils with SEN and notify them when SEN provision is being made for their child;
• to have regard to the Code of Practice when carrying out duties towards all pupils with SEN;
• to appoint a 'responsible person', who makes sure that all those who work with a child with a statement of SEN are told about the statement.

 Download the full Special Educational Needs Code of Practice

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