Cumbria Observatory – JSNA – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Introduction

The purpose of this Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is to assess the current and future health and social care needs of children and young people with a special educational need including a learning difficulty and/or disability (SEND). This SEND JSNA will focus on the 0-25 years population (up to the 25th birthday) unless an individual leaves education then this can cease.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) definition

“A child or young person has a special educational need (SEN) if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her” (Source: SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years, January 2015; Department for Education and the Department of Health.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support definition

Special Educational Needs support is the process schools and other settings use to identify and meet the needs of children with special educational needs. There are different types of Special Educational Needs support depending on the age of the child or young person. Special Educational Needs support is available for children under 5; children aged between 5 and 15; and young people aged 16 or over (up to 25 years) in further education. A child may need an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) if they need more support than their school or setting provides (Source: Children with Special Educational Needs; Gov.uk).

Education, Health and Care Plan (sometimes called an EHCP) definition

An Education, Health and Care Plan describes a child’s special educational needs and the support they will receive to meet their needs. An EHCP also includes any health and care provision that is needed. It is a legal document written by the Local Authority and is intended to ensure that children and young people with an EHCP receive the support they need. EHCPs are for children and young people (from 0 to 25 years) who need more support than their school or other setting can provide. The plans can start from a child’s birth and continue into further education and training . EHCPs replaced Statements of Special Educational Need and Section 139 Learning Difficulty Assessments on 1 September 2014 (Source: What is an Education, Health and Care Plan? Barnado’s).