Support for schools on the legal responsibilities of SEND provision
New guidance has been developed to provide clarity on schools' legal responsibilities for inclusion and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.
The guidance was produced by Head Teacher Matt Bown whilst on secondment to Warwickshire County Council in collaboration with Warwickshire Legal Services. The guide offers a comprehensive summary of the legal requirements for SEND provision in maintained schools and academies, including nurseries, primaries, secondaries, grammar, specialist, and alternative provisions.
The guide has been created with support from Warwickshire schools and Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services and is intended to inform and support professional conversations regarding the legal requirements for schools to ensure inclusion and SEND provision. It also provides a simple and easy-to-follow guide for schools and professionals, exploring inclusion and SEND provision in preparation for Ofsted inspections.
The document is part of a range of resources available to support schools, including free training, the School’s Inclusion Charter, exclusions video, the SEND Local Offer, SEND Inclusion Guidance, information and advice, and webinars.
We believe that this guide will be an invaluable tool for schools and professionals working in the SEND sector. It offers a clear and concise summary of the legal requirements for SEND provision, and we hope that it will help to promote inclusion and ensure that all students have access to the resources and skills they need to reach their full potential.
The guidance is available here https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.warwickshire.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2FWCCC-600065477-452&data=05%7C01%7Cantzelinakatsi%40warwickshire.gov.uk%7Cb7fd26dd105c49dad05908db56ffe5b2%7C88b0aa0659274bbba89389cc2713ac82%7C0%7C0%7C638199429280749451%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uV3A3T3%2Fu%2BYgycZQDspoVAm1yHmJrCnFu4%2Be4%2F7S914%3D&reserved=0 for schools and professionals to access for free. We encourage all schools to take advantage of this valuable resource.
If you have any questions about this new guide or require any additional support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued commitment to promoting inclusion and ensuring that all students receive the best possible education.
Sincerely,
Johnny Kyriacou
Assistant Director Education
Working Together Charter
A new county-wide charter has been launched in Warwickshire, aimed at improving services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The charter, which has been developed through collaboration between Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice, and IMPACT (young people’s forum for SEND), sets out a commitment to effective participation and will guide the design, development, and experience of SEND services in Warwickshire.
You can see the new Charter here > file:///C:/Users/Lmow/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/H97AG2TJ/SEND%20Working%20Together%20charter%20FINAL.pdf
As teachers, you will know that providing support for SEND students is a vital part of our work. This charter is designed to help us do that more effectively, by bringing together the different partners involved in the provision of SEND services with children, young people, and their families to ensure that all individuals receive the support and assistance they need to reach their full potential.
The charter will be underpinned by a number of key commitments, including creating a welcoming and caring space, open communication, valuing everyone’s contributions and working in partnership towards shared solutions. Developing and nurturing each these commitments will in turn build trust. We believe that these commitments will help to ensure that SEND students are able to access the support they need when they need it.
While the Working Together Charter focuses on guiding partners to improve SEND services, we encourage schools to note that it is consistent with the School Inclusion Charter, which provides a framework for their approach to students with special educational needs and disabilities. By aligning with both charters, schools can ensure that their work with SEND students is consistent with the broader effort to support these individuals and their families.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the charter and its principles, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Sincerely,
Johnny Kyriacou
Assistant Director Education
Warwickshire County Council