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News Archive

DfE: Government Proposes Biggest Reforms to Special Educational Needs in 30 Years

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather has unveiled proposals which would mean the biggest programme of reform in the education and health support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities in 30 years.
The Government proposes to:

• include parents in the assessment process and introduce a legal right, by 2014, to give them control of funding for the support their child needs
• replace statements with a single assessment process and a combined education, health and care plan so that health and social services is included in the package of support, along with education
• ensure assessment and plans run from birth to 25 years old
• replace the existing complicated School Action and School Action Plus system with a simpler new school-based category to help teachers focus on raising attainment
• overhaul teacher training and professional development to better help pupils with special educational needs and to raise their attainment
• inject greater independence from local authorities in assessments by looking at how voluntary groups might coordinate the package of support
• give parents a greater choice of school and give parents and community groups the power to set up special free schools. 

This publication marks the start of a four month period of consultation and a period of testing proposals in local areas from September 2011. The Department will work across government and with local and national partners to set out detailed plans by the end of the year.

The consultation will run from 9 March to 30 June 2011, and the Department welcomes your views on the proposals. Further details on the Department for Education website at:

• Support and Aspiration: A New Approach to Special Educational Needs and Disability - download document

Hertfordshire Inclusion Mark

The Inclusion Mark is a Hertfordshire award for schools.  It indicates that the accredited school has demonstrated that it has strong, effective inclusive practice securely in place for the whole range of vulnerable pupils in the school, including SEND.  It is available at three levels (bronze, silver and gold) and is renewable after three years. More...

IAELD

The IAELD - Individual Assessment of Early Learning and Development - has recently been revised and there is now an interactive pdf version available for schools to download.

• SEN - Guidance and Publications

The IAELD is an assessment tool for identifying possible SEN for use with young children whose skills fall in the 0-4 years age range. It is widely used across Hertfordshire in schools, maintained nurseries and also in the PVI (private, voluntary and independent) sector. Guidance for use are included. Hard copies are available from your link Educational Psychologist.

A Statement is not Enough - Ofsted Review of Special Educational Needs and Disability

A major review of special educational needs and disability arrangements published by Ofsted, reveals a range of concerns about the current system and how well it is serving children and young people

• Ofsted - Download report

Hertfordshire Special Educational Needs, Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy for children and young people aged 0 – 25

The renewed SEND strategy is an update on the provision and support planned for SEND pupils in Hertfordshire. It is an opportunity to recognise our joint effort in supporting those pupils as well as celebrating their achievements.

The strategy builds on the 2005 strategy to ensure that children and young people with SEND achieve their best possible educational outcomes. The updated strategy is based upon the assumption that everyone has a key role to play in ensuring that children and young people with SEND achieve well. More...