Glossary of Special Educational Needs (SEN) Terms.

' A child has Special Educational Needs if he or she has a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.' - Code of Practice - 2001

Statutory Assessment Process:
This begins when the CMG agrees to the request for a statement made by School/Parent and the process must be completed in 26 weeks.

A Statement:
This gives full details of a child's needs and the provision, which the LEA consider necessary to meet these needs. The LEA are at present working to reduce the number of statements to 2%

Annual Review Meetings (Statemented Pupils):
We have to review a pupil's statement and recommend any changes necessary to the LEA. Parents must be informed and invited to submit evidence and attend. All staff teaching a pupil are asked for comment via the review sheets: these comments are then collated and presented at the meeting. Attendance from any staff involved with the pupil is welcome and it is essential that Year Tutor and Form Tutor are involved. Yearly targets must be set by all interested parties, including the LEA. Parents must be included and fully informed of all proceedings.

Code of Practice: (revised 2001)
This was issued with the 1993 Education Act and gives practical guidance to LEA's and schools on SEN provision. It contains details of all procedures to be followed. Please note MAJOR changes to SEN categories.

Criteria Moderating Group: (CMG)
All requests from schools or parents go to this group, comprising representatives from the LEA and local schools. It makes decisions about who gets a statement.

The Educational Psychologist: (EP)
Each school has an EP attached to it. He/she usually also works in the feeder Primary school and makes approx. 14 visits per Year to see any pupils school recommend. They must be present at KS3 reviews at the end of Year 9.