Derbyshire Parent Forums

The Local Authority (LA) must review your child’s Statement of Special Educational Needs at least every year (every six months for children under five). Early or interim reviews can be called if necessary.
The Annual Review is a meeting, normally held in your child’s School or Early Years Setting. Everyone who is involved with your child is invited to attend or send written comments. The meeting will:
- Record any changes in your child’s circumstances
- Consider your child’s progress and whether the - Statement is still appropriate for your child’s needs
- Set new targets for the next year to be used to update the Individual Education Plan (IEP)
It is an important opportunity for you and your child to share your views with the School/Setting and the LA.

The Head Teacher will invite you, your child whenever possible, people who have worked with your child, professionals who have been involved, a representative of the LA and anyone else you, or the Head Teacher, feels would be able to give
helpful information or advice. Some people who are invited may not attend.

All the people invited to the meeting will be asked for a report. Copies of reports should be sent out 2 weeks before the meeting. It will be helpful if you could complete the form which asks for your views and return it to school/setting. If
possible, your child’s views should also be represented.

Your child’s progress will be discussed and information shared. You can ask questions or ask for an explanation if you are unclear about anything that is said. You will be asked for your views, which will be taken into account and recorded.

Year 5/6: The Y5 Annual Review should be held, if possible, in the summer term, so transfer to Secondary School can be discussed.
The SENCO of the Secondary School may be invited to attend the Y5 and Y6 Reviews. The LA Local Inclusion Officer usually attends the Y5 Review.

A Transition Review is held in Year 9 to make recommendations and plans for your child’s move into adult life, involving the Connexions Service.

A report of the meeting, summing up what was said and making recommendations is sent to the LA, along with all the reports that were submitted. Everyone who went to the meeting, or sent a report will be sent a copy. The LA will contact you to tell you if they agree with the recommendations.
If there are changes in provision or placement, the LA will consult you about amending the Statement.

The National Curriculum is in place to make sure that all children receive the same education and standard of teaching in all schools.

The National Curriculum must be taught to all children aged 5-16 in all Local Authority schools. It sets out the knowledge, skills and understanding needed in each subject. It provides standards to measure how well children are doing, to help teachers plan future learning.
The National Curriculum is broken down into four key stages and the Foundation Stage for younger children. To help teachers know exactly how a child is progressing, levels can be broken down into;
A - fully achieved
B - almost there
C - working on

The Foundation Stage is designed specifically for children aged 3-5 years.
There are six areas of learning covering children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. A child’s development is assessed throughout the Foundation Stage. A record of development across all of these areas provides a picture of the whole child at the end of the Foundation Stage.

Key Stage 1 (KS1) is the level of the National Curriculum taught to children in Reception to Year 2 (Age 4-7). National tests (SATs) are taken at the end of Year 2. Children are expected to attain Level 2.

Key Stage 2 (KS2) is the level of the National Curriculum taught to children in Year 3 to Year 6 (Age 7-11). National tests (SATs) are taken at the end of Year 6. Children are expected to attain Level 4.

Key Stage 3 (KS3) is the level of the National Curriculum taught to children in Year 7 to Year 9 (Age 11-14). National tests (SATs) are taken at the end of Year 9. Children are expected to attain Level 5 or 6.

Key Stage 4 (KS4) is the level of the National Curriculum taught to children in Year 10 and Year 11 (Age 14-16). National tests (GCSEs) are taken at the end of Year 11.

Schools can meet a wide range of Special Needs. Parents/carers have a right to request a Statutory Assessment. Schools and Parent Partnership can tell you more about this. If a request is turned down you can appeal to the SENDIST (The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal).

• Download : Statutory Assessment (143kb)

The DDA defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment which is substantial and long term, preventing a person taking part in normal day to day activities”. A disability is not always the same as a Special Educational Need.

The Law says that schools must make “reasonable adjustments” so that disabled children are not treated less favourably than others. This happens when a school treats a child differently because of their disability, and it can’t justify the treatment.
Schools must make reasonable adjustments to fit a pupil’s needs and to ensure disabled pupils are not at a disadvantage.

If you know, or think your child is disabled it is a good idea to tell the school. It is a particularly good idea if your child has a disability that is not obvious. If the school does not know that your child is disabled, it may not be able to help.

The Government defines the responsibility as being held by “the responsible body”. Responsibility is held by the Governors in most schools and owners in private schools.

This will be different in every case and may not cost a lot of money. It can often be a change in attitude.

- Getting into and around a building
- Being able to take part in all school activities
- Giving all children the same opportunity

- Ask your school or setting for the Accessibility Plan or Disability Equality Scheme
- Talk to the Headteacher
- Talk to a Governor
- talk to your Local Inclusion Officer
The Parent Partnership Service can guide you through all of this.
After trying these you could:
- Contact the Mediation Service on 0161 480 5234
- Appeal to the Special Needs & Disability Tribunal (SENDIST)- 0870 606 5750
Further information from:
- derbyshire.gov.uk/accessibility/strategy
- Equality & Human Rights Commission
- Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) SEN Booklet

The P scales were designed to provide a way of assessing children aged 5-16 who are working below level 1 of the National Curriculum. They will help teachers in planning future targets and will help them to review the progress of these children.
They will also give parents and carers a clear idea of their child’s progress.

The P scales break down into small achievable steps the important skills, knowledge and understanding which a child needs before moving on to work at the National Curriculum levels. There are P scales for:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Science
- PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)
- ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
The P scales use eight levels, P1—P8. They can be used in Primary, Secondary and Special Schools for children who may or may not have a Statement of Special Educational Needs.

Class Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Support Service Teachers and SENCOs will use the P scales.

The P scales will be used as guidance and support when planning a programme of work for individual children and to identify progress and achievement.