“I’ve Just Made Your Life Easier!”
(SEN Code of Practice)
This is an extract from my Autumn Term 2014 'SEN Update'
that was released on 29 August 2014.
(Don't forget that to ensure you never miss out on one you can get my updates personally by email by completing your details or by using our Social Media links below)
that was released on 29 August 2014.
(Don't forget that to ensure you never miss out on one you can get my updates personally by email by completing your details or by using our Social Media links below)
Click To Get
So it’s finally here after we have been waiting so long!
We are now entering a new era for special educational needs, as Part 3 of the Children & Families Act 2014 (and associated regulations), together with a new SEN Code of Practice, comes into force from Monday 1 September 2014.
It has been called ‘the biggest shake-up to SEN for 30 years’ and makes some fundamental changes to the SEN framework, for example:
- Replacing ‘Statements of SEN’ with ‘Education, Health & Care (EHC) Plans;
- Covering 0-25 years of age (as opposed to 2-19);
- Seeking better integration between local authorities and others working within education, health and care provision;
- Now including not only maintained schools but non-maintained schools, academies, colleges, Health bodies, those dealing with social care, to name but a few.
There are also other things that are new such as ‘Local Offers’, ‘Personal Budgets’, etc. Most importantly, it calls for children and (for the first time) young people with SEN or disability and their parents/families, to be put at the heart of the process.
“So what do I need to know or do?” many of you are probably thinking...
Well, if you know me or have read my updates previously, you should have realised by now that I have always tried to help people.
So, I have tried to make people’s lives easier again by writing an eBook over the summer entitled ‘A Guide To The SEN Code of Practice’ that you can download now and read immediately.
I have published it as an eBook only as it contains links throughout it to all the relevant legislation, regulations and guidance that you will need. It even includes a copy of the full SEN Code of Practice, Part 3 of the Children & Families Act 2014, the SEND Regulations 2014 and the Transitional guidance, as well as a list of all Local Authorities with links to their ‘Local Offer’.
As an eBook, it can also be easily carried around on a mobile device (such as an eBook reader/Tablet/Smartphone) and then be used to make searchable highlights/notes/bookmarks on.
It should become an invaluable resource for anyone involved with children/young people with SEN/Disability, such as:
- Parents/carers, young people and their advocates;
- Teachers/SENCOs/lecturers (both in mainstream/special schools or colleges);
- Local Authority officers (dealing with ‘education’ or ‘care’);
- Healthcare professionals (e.g. therapists, psychologists, doctors);
- Those involved in Complaints/Appeals/Alternative Dispute Resolution.
In fact, most people don’t realise that there are also reading Apps for both the PC/Mac as well as for other mobile devices, such as phones/tablets. This means that you can buy one copy of the guide for one device, but then have it on your computer to make annotations on and all your notes/highlights/bookmarks will be available to you immediately on your mobile device (provided it is synced) and vice-versa.
How good is that!
But don’t worry, I know that not everyone will know how to use the technology in this guide to its full potential at first, so I have also produced it as a PDF document which you can either use on screen (all the linking still works) or simply print out as a hard copy to use traditionally.
And, if you do print it out, it will then save you from having to print out a copy of the Code of Practice, Part 3 of the Children & Families Act, the SEND Regulations and the Transitional guidance themselves, as this guide contains all of these things and everything that you will need!
The Guide is easy to get hold off by going to www.AGuideToTheSENCodeOfPractice.co.uk where you can buy it once directly and then download all versions for all devices, which includes the free PDF version (I have also offered bulk discounts to people buying directly and made it easy to ‘gift it’ to a relative or friend who you think may need it).
You will also be able to purchase it soon on the Amazon Kindle, Apple iTunes, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo and Google Play online bookstores (I’m afraid that you may need to wait a week or so if you want to buy it this way as some stores take a while to ‘approve’ things, so you are probably best to buy it directly, especially as you will also get other things thrown in, like the PDF version, for free.)
I truly hope that by writing this guide, I have helped more people. As one person put it to me whilst I was writing the guide “this is the guide that the Government should have written, but didn’t!”
With best wishes
Douglas
Douglas
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