LEARNING
Joined-up
SEN service
Young people with
special educational
needs and disabilities
will be supported in a
much improved way from
September, as Deborah
Dickey found out.
C
urrently, families of children
and young people (aged 0-25)
with additional needs must
hold separate discussions
with health, education and social
care professionals.
But a more co-ordinated approach will
bring all these professionals together with
the aim of agreeing a comprehensive,
longer-term plan with families.
Lots of discussions have taken place,
and will continue to take place, with
local families to make sure the new
system will work for them.
From September, the old
‘statements’ system will be phased
out and the new SEN assessments
will take over. Children with existing
SEN statements will be transferred
over to the new education, health
and care plans within three years. And
young adults with learning difficulty
assessments will be transferred
within two years. Parents or carers
will be contacted once the timing for
transferring over to the new plans has
been finalised – in the meantime, all
statements will continue.
Matthew Jeatt, chairman of Ealing
Parent and Carer Forum, said: “The
council will also be publishing a ‘local
offer’. This will list all of the services
and support available for
families locally. This should
be another helping hand
for parents who are trying
to get the right services
for their children at
the right time.”
The forum is a
voluntary organisation
that works with Ealing
Council and other
Come along
A fun day and information event is
being held for parents, carers, children
and young people aged 0-25 with
additional needs, learning and physical
disabilities. It will be at Ealing Town
Hall on 22 October between 1-6pm.
No need to book – just
turn up.
local organisations, such as Contact a
Family and Ealing Mencap.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
If you want to find out more, or want
to be part of shaping the future of SEN
services and support in the borough,
get in touch with the Ealing Parent and
Carer Forum by email [email protected]
or by calling 07740 461 551.
MORE INFO
■
For details of local SEN
services for ages 0–25, visit
www.ealing.gov.uk/children
and click ‘Local Offer’
■
Visit www.ealinghelp.org.uk for
listings, news and useful links.
around ealing
Autumn 2014
21