The new SEN Code of Practice came into force in September 2014. It is a statutory guidance for settings and organisation who work with and support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The main changes from the SEN Code of Practice (2001) have arisen from the Children’ Act 2014.
These are the following changes
- The new SEN Code of Practice supports children and young people from 0-25 and includes information on supporting disabled children and young peoples as well as those children with Special Educational Needs
- It focuses on consulting children, young people and parents in any decision making process.
- It focuses on ensuring the necessary support provided will enable children and young children to achieve a successful outcome later on in life
- It includes guidance on the joint planning and commissioning of services to ensure close co-operation between education, health and social care
- There is guidance on providing a Local Offer of support for children and young people with Special Education Need and Disabilities
- It focuses on the approach of identifying and supporting children-this will replace School Action and School Action Plus
- The co-ordinated assessment process and the new Health and Care plan( EHC Plan) will replace statements and Learning Difficulties Assessments. These will only apply to children with more complex needs
- The new SEN focuses on providing the necessary support that will allow children to succeed in their education and make a seamless transition into adulthood.
Within a few months it was necessary to update and amend it. The revised new SEND Code of Practice came into force on April 1st 2015 and can be read here.