Legislation and statutory guidance

This statutory code contains:

• details of legal requirements that must be followed without exception
• guidance that must be followed by law unless there is a good reason not to. It explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs and disabilities under Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

The code, which applies in England, is for:

• headteachers and principals
• governing bodies
• school and college staff
• SEN coordinators (SENDCos)
• early education providers
• local authorities' health care staff
• local authorities' social services staff.

This document replaces the ‘Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice’ 2001.

The 2001 code still applies for those who have a SEN statement under Part 4 of the Education Act 1996, rather than an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) under the Children and Families Act 2014.

• SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years (GOV.UK)
• Special educational needs and disability (SEND) and high needs (GOV.UK)

In West Sussex we want all children and young people to the gain the skills and confidence they need to live well in their community.

Children and young people should be supported and nurtured through an educational system that responds to their circumstances, learning needs and abilities in order to prepares them for adulthood.

To help us to achieve this vision we have co-produced a SEND and inclusion strategy with parent carers, young people, education providers and professionals from social care, health and education.

Together, we have identified the following three priorities for our work:

Priority: Knowing our children and families well (an inclusive, person-centred approach)

Children and young people and their families will:

• have their educational needs understood and planned for as early as possible
• feel they belong and are valued
• be confident partners in the planning for their future, including at times of transition
• understand and have confidence in the SEND services available in West Sussex, whether that is within health, education, social care or the voluntary sector.

Priority: Meeting the needs of children and young people through our schools, educational settings and services

West Sussex will have a:

• skilled, confident and resilient workforce, able to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of all children and young people
• range of high quality schools, settings and services, where good practice is celebrated and shared
• consistent graduated approach that will 'assess, plan, do and review' the support that has been put in place to meet the needs of each child and young person with SEND.

Priority: Working together towards solutions (collective responsibility)

Everyone involved in supporting the needs of West Sussex children and young people will:

• experience services, systems and processes which support schools and settings to meet needs and to access timely, appropriate and relevant information
• think creatively to develop solutions that meet the needs of children and young people with SEND as close to home as possible, ideally within West Sussex
• have quality assurance in place to ensure consistent, effective and inclusive provision and practice
• use data and intelligence to plan together to meet current and projected needs of children and young people.

Part 3 of this Act is the law that covers children and young people in England with SEND. This includes information on education, health and care plans, personal budgets and the Local Offer.