The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team consider requests for, and co-ordinate, Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments for children and young people ages 0-25. If the local authority decides that an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) should be issued following assessment, the team also secure educational placement and ensure that provision, as detailed in the EHCP, is in place for the child or young person.

The SEN Team consists of SEN officers, who act as the main point of contact for parents of children and young people who are being assessed, our team co-ordinators answer telephone enquiries about general SEN information and provide administrative support. We also have a SEN business manager and finance and information officers who collate SEN data, and deal with finance relating to provision for children and young people with EHCPs. Our senior SEN officers manage the work around appeals to the First-tier Tribunal and transition to adulthood for young people with ECHPs, and finally, the SEN Team manager oversees the whole team.

Co-production is an extremely important aspect of our work and we work closely with the 0-25 Disability Team, Early Years Team, Sensory Service and health professionals to ensure provision is put in place as required for children and young people with EHCPs. Our SEN officers attend meetings with parents to co-produce draft EHCPs, discuss the EHC assessment and decide on next steps. The officers may also attend annual reviews particularly at phase transition. SEN officers and team co-ordinators speak to parents on a daily basis to provide advice and assistance.

The team is committed to ensuring appropriate outcomes for children and young people with EHCPs to make sure that they are able to transition to adulthood successfully.