What is SEND?
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) is a term used to describe people who have learning difficulties or disabilities which mean they need additional support with education. They may have much greater difficulty learning than most people of the same age, struggle to use facilities or have a physical or mental impairment with a long-term negative effect on everyday tasks and activities.
There are four main areas of need:
- Communication and interaction
- Cognition and learning
- Social, emotional, and mental health
- Sensory and/or physical needs
A person can have SEND with having a diagnosis.
Each school has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), this is a person who works within school organising support and learning plans for those with SEND.
During the referral process and first appointments, questions regarding disabilities and school attainment are asked so services can support SEND young people in the most appropriate way for their needs. We call this a person-centred approach.
Some young people with SEND who need more support than is available through special educational needs support, will have an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This is a legal document which identifies educational, health and social needs and set out the additional support to meet those needs.
This video explains what an EHCP is:
Requests for EHC assessment are processed through local authorities.
Visit the Cheshire East local authority website.
Visit the Cheshire West local authority website.
Visit the Wirral local authority website.
Contributing health advice
CYPMHS workers contribute health advice for young people open to the service as part of the needs assessment process. This covers aspirations, provision and outcomes.
Aspirations – what the young person would like to achieve.
Provision – what CYPMHS is offering the young person, how often and for how long.
Outcomes – what will be achieved as a result of the young person working with CYPMHS. This is focused on health outcomes.
Advice is also contributed to EHCP annual reviews. This video explains what an EHCP annual review is.
Read more about EHCPs on the gov.uk website.
There is support across Cheshire and Wirral to help families understand SEND and available resources they can access.
Local Offer
Local Offer websites for each local authority area have information and further signposting for SEND services in your local area.
In Cheshire East visit the Live Well local offer website.
In Cheshire West visit the Live Well local offer website.
In Wirral visit the SENDLO local offer website.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)
Information, Advice and Support (IAS) services can support families with SEND and provide free, confidential and impartial SEND advice.
In Cheshire East visit the Cheshire East Information Advice and Support website.
In Cheshire West visit the Live Well Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) web page.
In Wirral visit the Wirral SEND Partnership (SENDIASS) website.
Parent/Carer Forums and Participation
These parent/carer forums and participation groups can provide information and support to SEND parent/carers.
Visit the Cheshire East Parent/Carer Forum (PCF) website.
Visit the Cheshire West Parent/Carer Forum (PCF) website.
Visit the Parent Carer Participation Wirral (PCPW) website.
Training is available for professionals on SEND and EHCPs.
The National Children’s Bureau – Council for Disabled Children (CDC) learning website has a range of information about SEND related topics such as EHCPs and annual reviews.
Focus on Health Advice
This training is aimed at adults giving health advice in the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) system. The course will help you understand the role of good advice in the plan. There are three options, covering those who give advice for EHCPs and those who have a role in quality assurance (i.e. approving reports).
Access the training on the CDC website.
The role of CAMHS in the EHCP process
This training is aimed at adults with a role to play in the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) system.
This package of online training has been developed as part of the Delivering Better Outcomes Together programme.
Access the training on the CDC website.
NHS Learning Hub – can also be accessed via Open Athens
SEND Basic Awareness
Helps with understanding SEND, the system, the key legislations and the impact of SEND on a family. Guidance on where to find more information and how practitioners play a part in supporting good outcomes.
Access the training on the NHS Learning Hub website.
RISE (Research & Improvement for SEND Excellence) training offer
Recommended are Experts at Hand and Understanding the SEND reforms.
To view the Events & Training calendar and book on to training visit the CDC website.