- A Statement of Special Educational Needs,
Special Educational Needs (SEN) must be reviewed at least once
every school year.
Who goes to the Special Educational Needs review meeting?
The school fixes the review meeting and invites parents, the
child/young person and any other people who are
involved. Everyone has the opportunity to
put something in writing if they want to, including the
child/young person and parents. There are
special forms to help with this.
The review looks at the
child’s/young person’s progress in school, and
whether there needs to be any change in the help they are
receiving.
What happens next?
After the meeting, the school sends the
review papers to the local authority to consider
whether any changes should be made to the statement.
Parents always receive a letter letting them know what the local
authority has decided.
There is a named SEN Officer
for each child who can answer any queries or help with any worries
about the review process.
What happens when a child/young person is due to transfer to
another school?
A special review is held in
the year before the child/young persons last year
in the current school. This is called a Phase Change
review, and it is held early so that parents can visit the
new school and think about their options.
The statement must be changed to name the new
school by 15 February of the child/young persons
last year in their current one.
The SEN Team and the Parent
Partnership Service can provide advice and support for parents if
they have any concerns.
What happens when a young person is reaching the stage of
leaving school?
The review in Year 9 is called a
Transitional Review, and it starts planning for
when the young person eventually leaves
school. A Transition Plan is drawn up
at the meeting, and this sets out what help the young
person needs now and in the future, and who will be able
to provide it.
It is very important that the young person and
his/her family say what they wish for the future. There
are special forms to help with this, and the SEN
Team and Parent Partnership Service can provide advice and
support.
Who goes to this review meeting?
As well as parents and the young person, the
school invites a Connexions Personal Adviser to the review.
The Personal Adviser will maintain links with the young person to
help them think about what they would like to do when they
leave. This might be a university/college course, on the job
training, or employment.
If a young person has very
complex needs and may need help from Adult Services when they leave
school, the school will also invite a Social Worker from the
Disabled Children Team, who can provide help and advice to the
young person and parents.
What happens after Year 9?
At each review after Year 9, the
Transition Plan is looked at again and is altered
to take account of any changes in the young
person’s plans for the future.
As the young person comes
closer to school leaving age, the school and Connexions Personal
Adviser provide help with applications to colleges/universities,
seeking work experience, or routes to employment.
For a young person with
complex needs who may require Adult Services, the Disabled Children
Team Transitions Social Worker will provide advice and support in
this process.
