SENDiass stands for special educational needs and disability information advice and support service. Children, young people and their parents and carers where a child or young person has or may have special educational needs or a disability are able to access the service for free, impartial and confidential information and advice.
“Local authorities must arrange for children with SEN or disabilities for whom they are responsible, and their parents, and young people with SEN or disabilities for whom they are responsible, to be provided with information and advice about matters relating to their SEN or disabilities, including matters relating to health and social care.”
SEND Code of Practice 2014, DfE
What is SEND?
SEND stands for special educational need or disability. If a child is struggling to make progress in nursery, school or college it is possible that they may have special educational need or disability. A child or young person with SEND needs provision which is different from or additional to that available to others of the same age. A child’s needs should be identified and the provision should match the identified needs.
The SEND Code of Practice identifies four broad areas of need and support:
- Communication and interaction
- Cognition and learning
- Social, emotional and mental health
- Sensory and/or physical needs