Special Educational Needs and Disability Legislation & Guidance 

The laws relating to Special Educational Needs are found in Part 3 of the Children & Families Act 2014 and Part 4 of the Education Act 1996.

The SEND Code of Practice (SENDCOP) is statutory guidance for organisations that work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. It sets out duties, policies and procedures relating to Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and associated regulations, and it applies to England.

All professionals working with special educational needs children must have regard to the Code of Practice. This means that whenever they are making decisions they must give consideration to what the Code says.

They cannot ignore it. They must fulfil their statutory duties towards children and young people with SEN or disabilities in the light of the guidance set out in it. They must be able to demonstrate in their arrangements for children and young people with SEN or disabilities that they are fulfilling their statutory duty to have regard to the Code.

So, where the text uses the word ‘should’ it means that the guidance contained in this Code must be considered and that those who must have regard to it will be expected to explain any departure from it.

The following documents will open in a new window:

When People Can’t Agree – A Guide for Young People in Education

The following guide provides advice for young people aged 16-25 who are unhappy with their special educational needs (SEN) provision or support at school or college and need help and guidance to sort those problems out.

Around one in eight of all children and young people in England have special educational needs. For most of them, their schools, colleges, health and social care services provide good quality support. This helps make sure that the young person can benefit from education and help them prepare for life once they leave the education system.

For a small number, however, the path is not always so smooth, and problems can arise about the best ways to help the young person.

It is essential that when this happens, problems are dealt with as quickly as possible. The aim of this booklet is to describe how you, as a young person aged 16 or above, can do this.

The guide below will show you where you can get more information and support if you need it. 

This guide is intended for young people who are between 16 and 25 years of age and who have a special educational need or a disability.

Click on the image above to open a copy in a new window.

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