LA requirements under SENDA

LA statutory duties for SEN, SEN code of practice and SENDA

identify and assess needs of pupils with SEN, match with additional appropriate provision
provide high quality support and service delivery to schools, desseminate good practice
improve accessibility to curriculum, premises and written information for pupils with SEN and disability
develop co-ordinated multi-agency provision
plan strategically with school and other significant partners to develop systems for monitoring and accountability fro SEN
keep LA arrangements for SEN provision under review (quality assurance check, value added)
promote high standards in education for pupils with SEN (reviewing attainment, progress of pupils with SEN)
provide independent consultation service for parents/carers of pupils with SEN

Disability code of practice 2002 (DRC helpline: 08457 622 633)
The code does not impose legal obligations but the code can be referred to in legal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Act.

There are 8.5 million disabled people in Britain - 1:7 of the population.

The disability code sets out new duties not to discriminate against disabled pupils and prospective pupils.

It came into effect in September 2002.

The code sets out what is meant by less favourable treatment and outlines the reasonable setups which schools and settings could/should take to meet the needs of disabled pupils.

Accessible schools 2002 (LEA/0168/2002)
This document can be obtained from DCSF publications on 0845 60 222 60 or can be accessed online from www.dfes.gov.uk/sen.

This guidance set out the duties for LA schools/settings to increase the accessibility of schools to disabled pupils.

LAs have to draw up strategic plans and schools have to draw up accessibility plans by April 2003.

The planning duty has three strands:

increasing access to the curriculum
improving the physical environment of schools
improving the delivery of written information to disabled pupils