Special educational needs - Co-odinated support plan
A statement of Special Educational Needs is a legal document
laying out the details of Special Needs which your child is
considered to have.
The statement then goes on to outline the specific help which
will be made available to meet your child's Special Needs. This is
called Special Educational Provision. A Statement of Special
Educational Needs is set out in six parts:
Part 1 - Introduction
- The child's name and address and date of birth.
- The child's home language and religion.
- The names and address(es) of the child's parents.
Part 2 - Special Educational Needs
Details of each and every one of the child's Special Educational
Needs as identified by the
CSA
during Statutory
Assessment from the advice received and attached as appendices to
the statement.
Part 3 - Special Educational Provision
The Special Educational Provision which the CSA consider
necessary to meet the child's Special Educational Needs.
- The objectives which the Special Educational Provision should
aim to meet.
- The Special Educational Provision which the CSA consider
appropriate to meet the needs specified in part 2 and to meet the
specified objectives.
- The arrangements for monitoring progress in meeting those
objectives, particularly for setting short-term targets for the
child's progress on a regular basis.
Part 4 - Placement
The type and name of school where the Special Educational
Provision specified in part 3 is to be made or the arrangements for
the education to be made otherwise than in school
Part 5 - Non-Educational Needs
All relevant non-educational needs of the child as agreed
between the Health Services, Social Services or other agencies and
the CSA
Part 6 - Non-Educational Provision
Details of relevant non-educational provision which will be made
available to meet the non-educational needs of the child as agreed
between the Health Services and/or the Social Services and the CSA,
including the agreed arrangements for its provision.
If it has been decided to issue a Statement of Special
Educational Needs, then you will first be sent a 'Proposed
Statement'. All sections will be completed except Part 4
(describing the type and name of the school) which is left blank.
Along with the copy of the Proposed Statement, you will receive a
letter from the Sheffield Education Service telling how you can
give your views on the Proposed Statement before a Final Statement
is issued. Details of CSA mainstream and special schools in the
area are sent to you at this point, along with details of all
non-maintained and independent schools approved by the Secretary of
State for Education as suitable for children with Special
Educational Needs.
You have a right to express a preference for the CSA maintained
school you want you child to go to. This may be the school that
your child is already attending.
We will agree with your preference providing:
- The school you choose is suitable for your child's age, ability
and Special Educational Needs.
- Your child's attendance there will not effect the efficient
education of other children already at the school.
- Placing your child in the school will be an efficient use of
resources
You may also make any representations in respect of seeking a
place at a non-maintained independent school outside the CSA,
although the Authority is not obliged to fund a place in one of
these schools. The CSA normally tries to make provision for
children in one of its own schools. Deciding which school you would
prefer your child to attend is a very important matter and we will
be pleased to talk to you and provide you with additional
information to assist you with making your decision.
You may wish to visit schools in order to familiarise yourself
with the provision made by the Children's Services Authority. You
have 15 days in which to make any comments and express your
preference of school you want for your child. Usually the CSA will
send you the Final Statement within eight weeks of issuing the
Proposed Statement. You will be informed of your right of appeal
against the Authority's decision to an independent Special Needs
Tribunal if you do not agree with the Final Statement issued by the
Authority.
An assessment should take no longer than six months. (There
are exceptions to this time limit e.g. when professional advice is
received late).
Parents or carers can help by replying quickly whenever
the Children's Services Authority contacts you.