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Gateshead Council

   

In October 2005 Gateshead Council began a full-scale review of its Special Educational Needs ( SEN ) provision. 

Over a two year period we asked people’s views about the future of SEN provision and looked at what special support is currently available. We looked at a range of options for SEN provision and asked for views on these options.

We listened to those views and came up with 54 recommendations for the future of SEN provision in Gateshead. The recommendations were approved by Cabinet and are now ‘actions’.

Summary of the proposals from the review

The main aim of the SEN review, and taking forward the actions, is to increase inclusion. We also need to make sure that any funding and resources for special educational needs is used as effectively as possible. We would like more children with SEN to have the opportunity to attend mainstream schools, if that is what their parents want. We think fewer children should have to go outside Gateshead to have their SEN met.

At the moment children either attend a special school or unit or attend a mainstream school. We think there should be more options. Options could include:

 

• Part time attendance in a special school or unit;
• Short-term placement in a special school or unit;
• Special school classes taught in mainstream schools for some of the time;
• Children on the register at both a mainstream and special school so that they can attend the special school when they need to but stay in mainstream when they can.

We think it is important that the special provision should be as flexible as possible so it can adapt to the different SEN of different children.

How are the SEN Review agreed actions to be taken forward?

We have set up a small team who are responsible for taking the actions of the review forward. Some of the work is already underway. For example,

• We are working with several primary schools to set up new mainstream provision for pupils with behaviour difficulties.
• We now have mainstream provision for deaf children who previously had to attend schools outside of Gateshead.
• Support and assessment provision in mainstream settings for pre-school children with disabilities will be available from October 2009.
• We have provided training for staff in mainstream schools on dyslexia and speech and language difficulties
• We have worked with special schools to change the way they are funded. We want to make sure the funding is fair while allowing them more flexibility in the way they work.

If you would like to contact the Inclusion Implementation Team, please telephone 0191 433 8702 or email Inclusion Implementation Team|

Will this really improve provision for children with SEN?

To make sure the changes will benefit children with SEN, we will use the governments 'SEN Improvement Test'. This says we must be able to demonstrate the educational benefits that will result from the proposals. For example, we need to show that the changes will result in:

• Better access to education and the curriculum;
• Improved access to specialist staff; 
• Improved access to suitable accommodation.

We believe the changes will benefit children with SEN but we will be continuing to consult with young people, parents, carers, staff and governors to help us to be successful. 

We will also be communicating with parents, governors and staff through a termly newsletter. Copies of the newsletter are available in the document archive|