Special Educational Needs - Advice and Links for Parents

Support Groups
SEN in Schools
Parent Partnership
P Level Explained
Curriculum
Advocacy

Downs syndrome association are an organisation which focus totally on supporting children and adults with Downs syndrome and their families and carers. They offer support, advice and training to parents, carers and professionals working with people with downs syndrome.

Autistic society provides information specifically for people with autism spectrum disorders, parents and carers, partners, brothers and sisters, professionals and researchers .

Autistic society Aspergers provides information on Aspergers as a type of Autism

Pwsa-uk provides information about Prader willi and managing the condition through diet etc

Williams –Syndrome foundation offers support and guidance for parents, carers and professionals working with children with Williams Syndrome

BBC Health Conditions Kabuki gives information about this rare condition and has links to advice and support areas

British Dyslexia association Information and advice on dyslexia for dyslexic people and those who support them

RNID ukInformation and resources for deaf and hard of hearing people, their families, friends and employers, and professionals

This list is by no means inclusive and to find information on other conditions please enter a web search

For information on courses, events and training please visit the Course and Event providers

School-based interventions, statutory assessments

What is a statutory assessment? Statutory assessment is a very detailed assessment of a child’s educational needs that will include reports from a variety of people such as school staff, Educational psychologist, health and social care support and parents. The assessment will identify the child’s needs and any special help that is required. For more information on statutory assessment please contact your local authority Special Needs support service

Mencap Guide to getting a statement for your child

Directgov– parents Information about the additional support given through a Statement and also includes information about choosing a school.

Connexions Involved with SEN pupils mandatory from 14yrs should be included as part of annual review

Process

For more information please visit the Teachers section SEN Guides

Connexions London
Mencap
DirectGov	Parents
TeacherNet	Parents Guide

Parent Partnership Services (PPS) are statutory servicesinformation advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).

PPS work directly with parents and carers of children and young people with SEN
PPS provide confidential information advice and support
PPS work in partnership with parents/carers, schools, the local authority and other agencies
PPS support parents to inform and influence local policy and practice
PPS enable parents and carers to make informed choices and decisions with confidence

The services PPS provide are confidential and impartial and provide information and advice about:

How special educational needs are identified and assessed by schools and the local authority
Who parents can talk to in a school or LA about their concerns
The SEN Code of Practice, the statutory assessment process and statements Link to Teachers Page
Parents/carers rights and responsibilities
Meetings and reviews about a child’s needs
How progress is monitored and reviewed
What parents can do if they are not happy with a decision made about their child’s SEN

Each PPS develops its own local aims based on national guidelines:

More information given on Local Authority web site

Parent Partnership	Gives information and links on and to support services
Parent Partnership	This site will give links to London Local authorities

Performance scales (P Scales) are an inclusive assessment tool which, like other assessment tools, require exemplification and moderation, in order to validate any judgments.

It is essential to consider the use and development of P scales in the context of the broader assessment picture rather than as an isolated process. This is particularly important where there may be small numbers of pupils in a school who require assessment using the P scales, or where a teacher is working in isolation (there may only be one teacher in a school who is using P scales at a given time)
P Level descriptors describe early learning and attainment before level 1 in eight levels P1to P8.

The performance descriptors may be used by teachers in the same way as the National Curriculum level descriptors to

Decide which description best fits a pupil’s performance over a period of time and in different contexts
Develop or support more focused day –to –day approaches to ongoing teacher assessment by using the descriptors to refine and develop long, medium and short term planning.
Track linear progress towards attainment at National Curriculum level 1
Identify lateral progress by looking for related skills at similar levels across their subjects
Record pupil’s overall development and achievement possibly at the end of year or key stage

P Levels should not be used to describe the attainment of children who are new to the English Language, the LiC scales should used.

How the Framework of P scales progresses as Les. Staves describes ( Independent Consultant in the teaching and learning of Maths for SLD)

P1-Encounter-aware-attend

(i) may encounter without obvious learning-may be passive or resistant
(ii) becoming more aware of sensory experiences and developing attention

P2– attend-respond-engage-participate

(i) learning to attend, share attention and explore
(ii) engage in shared exploration-turn taking, using looking, early pointing

P3-participate-anticipate-involved-seeking to understand

(i) participate in exploring and events and routines
(ii) manipulate objects with deliberate intentions, observe effects of action remembering and beginning to understand relationships

P4-P8– Inquisitive learning. Extending understanding –connecting knowledge and skills

Acquire and practice new skills, make connections absorbing new information.
Using active thinking, adapting to new ideas.
Becoming progressively more independent as inquisitive and creative learners
Overlapping and extending P8 Early learning goals NC1
Active participation and involvement in gaining skills and understanding

QCA	Gives information and guidance on P levels
National Strategies	Gives information and guidance on P levels

Equals	Gives information on schemes of work taught in school and P Levels used in assessment
QCA	Gives information on curriculum available and qualifications attainable to young adults
QCA	Gives information on curriculum available and qualifications attainable to young adults
DfE	Gives information and guidance on Early Years development

Advocacy

An advocate is an independent person who can help to support your child make decisions about their life, whether they want to continue studying, move away from home or help finding a job. There are many different organisations who could support them in finding an advocate.

A Connexions Personal Advisor could also help you make decisions about further study and what you need to do to apply for courses. The Connexions service should now be involved with SEN pupils from the age of 14 onwards and should be included as part of the Annual Review process.

Advocacy Websites

Special Educational Needs - Parents