We hope that most children with SEND can be supported to access mainstream schools or education settings, for example, in pre-schools, nurseries and colleges.
They may need extra help if they find learning more difficult than their peers, so their school might create a plan of tailored support for them so they can make progress and achieve their potential.
If you think your child might need extra help we have provided some information about the steps to take first.
We expect all schools, colleges and education settings in Devon to:
- do everything they can to ensure your child gets the support they need so they can progress and achieve their goals
- prevent discrimination and promote equality by supporting your child to take part in the same activities as their classmates
- inform you of any SEND support or assessments for your child
- employ a qualified SENDCo
- make reasonable adjustments for disabled children so they can access the setting
- publish their arrangements for supporting pupils with SEND
You can read more about the support you can expect at school as well some more detailed information about how schools provide support for the four areas of SEND need.
We also work with schools to support pupils who are unable to attend school due to medical conditions.
Who to contact for advice
If you need advice and guidance about your child’s support in school, there are lots of organisations that can help you.
All local authorities must, by law, provide an information, advice and support service for SEND. This is an impartial, confidential and free service for parents, children and young people, and provides advice about all aspects of SEND support. In Devon, this service is called DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support).
If the support in school isn’t working for your child or young person or if you need to raise concerns or make a complaint, we have information about how you can do that here.
Information about each academy and maintained school in Devon can be found on the individual school’s website. This information should include details about the SEND support the school offers. The duties education settings have are set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, 0-25, Code of Practice.
The Council for Disabled Children has produced a guide to schools’ responsibilities to children and young people with disabilities which may also be useful.