SENCO Support: Guidance and Key Information

This section contains information about SEND processes for SENCOs.

This forms part of our commitment to make these processes and systems clear. It also helps to demonstrate that they underpin our ongoing improvements to SEND services in Sutton.

How will this SEND Guidance help?

The guidance lays out how we can all work together to continually improve what we do in the Borough. It provides a common set of expectations about the provision that should be available for the majority of young people with SEND. This includes in mainstream settings for those whose needs are predictable. It also provides information on the provision that should be available for pupils whose needs are ‘exceptional’. This means they cannot be met by mainstream provision (what we refer to as specialist settings).

It will help settings and Local Authority officers to make decisions:

• At a setting level as plans are made to meet pupil or student needs, and

• At a Local Authority level. This includes when a Panel considers whether there is evidence that specialist provision is needed. This must be in spite of the setting applying the Graduated Response over a reasonable period of time,

The information can be used as a reference for existing professionals. It can also support the induction of those that are new to the Local Area. This may include SENCO’s in schools, Social Care and Health professionals etc.