If your child experiences difficulties at a pre-school setting or school, the teachers must first identify what your child’s special educational needs are. The class teacher will want to talk to you to find out your views.
They will then work out what extra assistance will be arranged by the pre-school or school to help your child. This could be extra help in the classroom or some time out of the class working individually or in small groups.
If extra help is arranged the pre-school or school will begin to follow the Code of Practice procedures.
Children of pre-school age receiving extra help at this stage are at Early Years Action of the Code of Practice.
Children or young people of school age receiving extra help at this stage are at School Action of the Code of Practice.
Your child’s progress will be regularly reviewed. An Individual Education Plan will be written by the pre-school’s or school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) and class teacher.
If your child does not make progress after having tried different programmes, usually assessed over quite a long period of time, the pre-school or school may ask for help from other professionals. They will always ask for your permission first.
This could include Specialist Teachers, Educational Psychologists, Education Welfare Officers or health professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists.
Children of pre-school age receiving extra help at this stage are at Early Years Action Plus of the Code of Practice.
Children or young people of school age receiving extra help at this stage are at School Action Plus of the Code of Practice.
New plans or special arrangements are made in the pre-school or school. Progress will be regularly reviewed.
Very occasionally, if progress has not been made despite a lot of help over time, the pre-school or school may wish to approach the Local Authority (LA) to see if your child meets the criteria to start a Statutory Assessment.
If this is agreed your child will be the subject of a Statutory Assessment.
Some pre-school children who are likely to need high levels of support will go straight to a Statutory Assessment which may be arranged before starting school.
