Introduction to SEND
If you are new to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), this page will help you to:
- understand important issues that affect all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND
- see the support that is available to parents, carers and young people with SEND in Buckinghamshire
SEND is short for special educational needs and disabilities.
For children and young people, having SEND means that they may:
- find it harder to learn than other people their age
- need extra help to learn
- have physical difficulties that make it harder to go to an education provider such as a school or college
Full definition of SEND
The Equality Act 2010 says a disability is a mental or physical impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on a person's ability to do normal day to day activities.
In this definition, 'substantial' is more than a small or minor impact, and 'long term' means more than 12 months.
Special educational needs, often written as SEN, are defined in the Children and Families Act 2014.
It says that children or young people with SEN need extra support in education because they:
- find it harder to learn than other people their age
- have difficulty using the facilities in a mainstream education provider without special help or equipment
In the SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years, SEN is split into 4 categories:
- Communication and interaction: difficultly talking to or understanding other people
- Social, emotional and mental health difficulties: challenges in making friends and forming relationships
- Sensory or physical needs: extra support or special equipment is needed to learn effectively
- Cognition and learning: difficulty learning or learning more slowly than other people of the same age
You can also see the government's legal definition of SEND.
There are professionals and organisations in your local area who can help you with SEND.
If you do not have experience with SEND, the first services you may contact for support are:
GPs and schools
If you are worried about your child's development and they go to a mainstream education provider, you should first speak to their teachers.
Mainstream education providers include:
- early years settings such as nurseries or preschools
- schools
- providers of further education such as colleges
The best person to speak to is an education provider's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO).
If your child is not in education or you are concerned about your child's health needs, you should speak with your GP.
You can find your nearest GP.
SENCOs
In education, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) are the main point of contact for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.
SENCOs also work closely with young people with SEND to ensure they get the best from education.
SENCOs make sure that children and young people with SEND are supported in education through SEN support.
They can also help you to apply for an education, health and education (EHC) plan if necessary.
Buckinghamshire Family Information Service
We are responsible for publishing the SEND local offer and can help if you:
- need help to find information
- are unsure who to contact
- are having difficulty using this website
To contact us:
Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support (SENDIAS)
The SEND Information, Advice and Support (SENDIAS) team is at arm's length from Buckinghamshire Council.
They can help you to find accurate and impartial information about SEND and the law.
The Bucks SENDIAS Service has a range of information available. If necessary they can be contacted via their clickable contact form.
In addition to their contact form there is also a live web chat available during the following times during school term time:
- Mondays 1pm to 3pm
- Fridays 10am to 12pm
The live chat will be available by clicking the red button on their webpages during the times stated above.
Family centres
Parents and carers of children with SEND can find help and support at our family centres.
Services vary between family centres, but they all provide health services for children and young people with SEND up to the age of 25.
The health services provided by family centres are universal, meaning that they are open to everyone, not just children and young people with SEND.
Family centres can give you support if you are worried about your child's development.
Find your nearest family centre in our directory:
Health Visiting
You can contact your local health visiting team if you are concerned about the development of your child from Birth to 5 years old. The Health Visiting service, part of the Healthy Child Program can help you to:
- take care of yourself and your family
- encourage your child to develop and grow
- keep your child safe
Health Visitors are qualified nurses with a specialism in child health, public health and health promotions. We also have a community staff nurse and a community nursery nurse, who will advise you about all aspects of baby and child management and behaviour.
All children and young people with SEND are entitled to a mainstream education.
This means that all education providers must support children and young people with SEND. This includes early years settings, schools and colleges.
All education providers help their pupils with SEND through special educational needs (SEN) support.
SEN support is provided by all early years settings, schools and colleges, using the normal funding they get from the council and the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
All education providers across Buckinghamshire should provide the same level of SEN support.
You can read more about SEN support and the graduated approach it follows to help teachers learn about your child and tailor support to meet their needs.
In most cases, children and young people with SEND get all the help they need from SEN support.
But where an education provider is unable to give a child or young person with SEND the help they need, you can consider applying for an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
In our SEND local offer health section you can read about support for children and young people with SEND, including:
You can also find support for children and young people's mental health, and help for other conditions associated with SEND including:
- development and behaviour
- speech and language
Our Autism Toolbox also has help and advice for parents and carers of children and young people with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
As the parent or carer of a child or young person with SEND, you may be entitled to extra benefits to help care for your family.
Young people with SEND over the age of 16 can get benefits to help them in education, find a job or become independent.
Parents, carers and young people with SEND may also get extra money from universal benefits. Universal benefits are available to everyone, not just people affected by SEND, and include funded childcare and Universal Credit.
Find out about the SEND money and benefits you can apply for.
All childcare providers must give the same opportunities to children with SEND as they do for every other child. This includes nurseries and preschools.
We can help you to find childcare that suits children with SEND, and point you towards other sources of support.
For more help see the SEND local offer childcare and early years section.
When young people with SEND turn 16, our preparing for adulthood section can help them get ready for independence.
The preparing for adulthood section contains information on:
There are lots of activities and clubs in the local area that are suitable for children and young people with SEND.
Search our directory to find out what's happening near you, and use our filters to narrow your search:
As the parent or carer of a young person with special educational needs (SEN), you will help them to make important decisions.
Learning disability charity Mencap's Mental Capacity Act resource pack can help you to understand:
- how to make sure people with SEN are involved in decision making
- who can make decisions if a relative cannot
- how to follow the law and complaints procedures
This video about the Mental Capacity Act is also helpful.
When young people can make their own decisions
A child becomes a young person when they are no longer compulsory school age.
That is, the end of June in the year they turn 16.
A young person then has the right to make decisions for themselves.
Parents and carers should still be included in making important decisions, as they have parental responsibility until a young person is 18.
But it should always be assumed that a young person has the mental capacity to make their own decisions, unless proven otherwise.
Also, while a young person may have trouble making complex decisions, they may have the capacity to make simple decisions.
Mental capacity assessment
An assessment can be helpful for parents and carers, as it will allow them to formally decide if a young person has the mental capacity to make decisions or not.
This assessment can be performed by a:
- GP or medical practitioner
- psychiatrist
- mental health professional
- psychologist
- nurse
- occupational therapist
Speak to your GP first for advice.
If a young person does not have the mental capacity to make decisions, their rights can pass on to:
- a person appointed as a deputy through a court
- professionals at the council
Responsibilities of a deputy
If a young person reaches 18 and does not have the capacity to make important decisions about education, living arrangements, care or money, another person can apply for a deputyship order through the court of protection.
That person can then make decisions on behalf of the young person.
Deputies must:
- be over 18
- know the young person well
- have regular contact with the young person and understand their wishes
Deputies are usually a parent, but could be a sibling or another appropriate person.
When to apply for a deputyship order
It is best to apply for a deputyship order when the young person is 16 or 17.
This is so the order is in place when they turn 18 and there is no longer parental responsibility.
Appointing an attorney to make decisions
Young people who have trouble making decisions can also choose to ask someone to act on their behalf.
This person will act as the young person's attorney.
A young person must have the mental capacity to appoint an attorney, and has control over the powers given to their attorney.
Where a young person lives
A young person’s right to live separately from their parents depends on:
- their age
- their mental capacity to make a decision about where they live
- whether or not they are looked after by the council
There is no single rule that covers everyone, and the options may vary depending on circumstances.
You can read more about a young person's rights regarding where they live.
Short for Families and Carers Together in Buckinghamshire, FACT Bucks is a group of parents and professionals who meet to discuss issues that affect children and young people with additional needs and disabilities locally.
FACT Bucks gives parents a place and opportunity to:
- improve the services and support for children and young people with SEND
- help ensure children with additional needs are fully included in society and have access to the support and facilities necessary to sustain and improve their wellbeing
- meet directly with decision-makers and those providing and delivering services
- join local meetings, events and training
FACT Bucks work with the Local Offer for SEND to provide insight on topics and help improve our information.
If you're a parent or carer of a child or young person with a SEND and live in Buckinghamshire, email [email protected] to find out how you can get involved.