Implementing the Reforms forSpecial Educational Needs and Disability

Children and Families Act 2014

September 1st 2014

What has Changed?

East Sussex Parent and Carer Council

Denise Ford

Principal Educational Psychologist

Coordinated Assessment & Planning Manager

Principles Underpinning New Legislation

Aspirations for children and young people are raised through an increased focus on life outcomes, including employment;

For more complex needs, an integrated assessment and a single Education, Health and Care Plan are in place from birth to 25

There is greater control for parents and young people over the services they and their family use.

As of 1st September it will no longer be possible to request an assessment for a statement for a child or young person who does not already have one and no new learning difficulty Assessments (LDA’s) can be conducted.

Those requiring a statutory plan to secure the relevant provision to meet their SEN should be issued with an EHC plan.

SEN Support

Schools and early years settings should:-• Review pupils on early years action/early years action plus and

School Action/School Action+ to put in place SEN Support.• This will include setting clear targets for progress, agreeing what

support should be provided and tracking how it is working.• Continue to put children, young people and parents at the centre of

decision making, including making sure parents are fully informed and involved with how pupils are progressing

• It is anticipated that most children and young people will have transferred to the SEN support category by spring 2015, with all pupils moving to SEN support by September 2015.

• Responsibility of Headteachers/Governors

Provision mapping or

similar

• MOST children with SEN will have their support set out this way

SEN Support

Plan

• Also called an Early Years/School/College based support plan

• SOME children will need these

EHC Plan• A FEW

children with the most complex needs will have these

SETTING LEAD

Local Authority lead

Levels of SEN support:

Person Centred Planning & Transfer Reviews

• By 1st April 2018, the Local Authority must have transferred all children and young people with Statements to the new SEN system following a transfer review. For key cohorts of children and young people the transfer review will replace the Annual Review.

• The parent of a child or the young person with a statement do not

have the right to request an EHC needs assessment under the Children and families Act 2014 during the transition period.

• To initiate a transfer review the Local Authority must notify the parent or young person and the headteacher of the school at least 2 weeks before it starts that the transfer review will take place.

DfE Priority Groups 2014/2015

• Children and young people issued with non statutory EHC plans before September 1st 2014.

• Children and young people transferring from school to a post 16 establishment or an apprenticeship. This must be done by 31st May 2015.

• Children moving from infant to junior school• Children and young people moving from a mainstream to a special

school, or from special to a mainstream school.• Children in Year 9 and Year 6• Children and young people moving from one local authority to

another.

East Sussex Priority Groups

• Children and young people issued with non statutory EHC plans before September 1st 2014.

• Children and young people transferring from school to a post 16 establishment or an apprenticeship. This must be done by 31st May 2015.

• Children moving from infant to junior school• Children and young people in Year 6 moving from a mainstream to a

special school.• Children in Year 5

A visual of the EHC and Transfer process

Collect information Child / Family-centred

Allocation questions

Confirm entitlementAgree allocation of

funding and services-

Child / young person and family centredFocus on outcomes

Explore all sources of support options

Listen and understand

Agree and allocate

Plan together

Review and learn

Working/not working?Change,

revise outcomes, continue

Content of EHC Plans

Section A: The views, interests and aspirations of the child and his or her parents or the young person.

Section B: The child or young person’s special educational needs

Section C: The child or young person’s health needs which are related to

their SEN.

Section D: The child or young person’s social care needs which are related to their SEN.

Section E: The outcomes sought for the child or young person.

Section F: The special educational provision required by the child or young person

Section G: Any health provision reasonably required

Section H: Any social care provision reasonable required.

Section I: The name and type of school

Section J: Details of Personal Budget where appropriate.

Preparing for the Transfer Review

Transfer Reviews should embed person centred principles and should include:-• outcomes to be developed for inclusion in a child or young person’s

Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan along with provision identified to support the child/young person to achieve those outcomes.

Local Authorities must finalise an EHC Plan, where one is needed

within 14 weeks of the start of the transfer review.