1. New SEN Framework Presentation to the Joint Consultative Forum 17 May 2017 By Sharon Lawlor
ED1/17/75799

2. A more responsive SEN Framework for children
1. SEND Act
2. SEN Regulations
3. Code of Practice
A more responsive SEN Framework for children

3. SEND Act – New Duties & Rights
New duties - Education Authority (EA), Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) & Boards of Governors (BoGs)
New rights - parents of children with SEN & for children over compulsory school age

4. SEND Act - New Duties –EA
EA to seek & have regard to the views of the child
EA to annually publish a plan of its arrangements for SEN provision
Reduction 29 to 22 days – period to make parental representations – commenced 30 September 2016
4. Statement to set out the nature and extent of provision

5. SEND Act - New Duties –EA
EA shall request help from the HSCTs when needed
Make dispute & mediation arrangements – independent of the EA
Participate in mediation
4. Assess capacity of a child over compulsory school age if a question of capacity raised

6. SEND Act - New duties: EA and HSCTs
Linked to Children’s Services Co-operation Act 2015
EA & Health to cooperate with one another with regard to children with SEN to:
identify and assess;
provide services; and
in preparing a transition plan
Share information (with consent)

7. SEND Act -New Duties - BoG
Teachers to take “all” reasonable steps.
Those concerned with pupil’s education – all know about pupil with SEN (but need to recognise right to privacy)
Learning Support Co-ordinator (LSC)
Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each pupil with SEN

8. SEND Act - New rights
For children over compulsory school age – rights of the parent transferred to the child
Provision for assistance and support for exercising the rights
Parent can exercise right if child does not have the capacity

9. SEN Regulations
Consultation on draft special educational needs regulations ran from February to May 2016
A Response Summary Report is available on the DE website at :-

10. SEN Regulations
Responses to the consultation revealed there were some issues of concern with the draft SEN regulations :-
1. Learning Support Co-ordinators – qualifications and experience
2. Reduced new timescales for statutory assessment
3. Assistance and support for children over compulsory school age
4. Mediation

11. SEN Regulations
Subject to Ministerial approval, the intention is to table any proposed changes to the regulations for discussion with the Education Committee
Finalised regulations would be tabled for debate by the Assembly

12. New SEN Code of Practice
New Code of Practice is being drafted – informed by the SEND Act provisions and the SEN Regulations
The new Code will replace 1998 Code and 2005 Supplement
EA, schools & Tribunal - statutory duty to have regard to the Code

13. New SEN Code of Practice
Drafting informed by targeted engagement with key stakeholders
Have been working closely with EA in the drafting of the Code including significant engagement with schools in the development of the school section of the Code
Envisaged that an 8 week consultation on the Code will launch in late 2017

14. Next Steps and Implementation
Finalise Regulations, consult on the Code of Practice
All aspects of the new SEN Framework in place to allow full implementation during the 2018/19 academic year
Capacity building – work commenced to develop training for EA, Schools, BoGs etc