Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You will have an EHC plan co-ordinator who can help you. If you do not know who it is please call Southwark’s SEN Team on 0207 525 4278, alternatively, you can email them: sen@southwark.gov.uk.

The SIAS Team can also advise. You can contact this team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

You will need to submit a request for an EHC needs assessment to the Southwark SEN Department. You can find information about how to do this here.

The SIAS Team can also provide advice and support with requesting an EHC needs assessment. You can contact this team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

There is an expectation that children and young people attend their local mainstream school if this is what they wish. You should apply in the usual way. Mainstream Schools are very experienced in meeting the needs of young people and children with special educational needs.

Once on roll if the school/setting feel that the child/young persons needs are such that they will need extra help and support to be able to access the school curriculum, the school can request specialist help from other services (e.g. Educational Psychology Service) or you or the school may request that the Council carry out an EHC assessment.

It is unlawful for a school to refuse admission to a child who has SEN, but has no EHCP:

• on the grounds of the child’s challenging behaviour (except in very limited circumstances); or

• because it believes the child requires EHC needs assessment or requires additional support.

If you need further advice regarding this, you can contact the SIAS Team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

The decision letter will tell you why the LA decided it is not necessary for the EHC assessment to be carried out. The decision letter will inform you of your right to appeal against the decision to the SEND Tribunal or request Mediation.

The SIAS Team can offer support and advice with this process. You can contact this team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

Click here to find out more information about the appeal process.

You may want to consider requesting an EHC re-assessment if you believe that:

• the needs of the child or young person have changed since the last EHC plan was issued; or

• the provision under Section F needs to be increased or changed; or

• the child or young person should attend a different kind of school or college.

An EHC re-assessment is an opportunity to gather new evidence to work out what support the child or young person now needs. You can request one by writing to the LA asking for a re-assessment of the child or young person’s education, health and care needs and explaining why you think the current EHC plan is not good enough.

The LA must consider a request for an EHC re-assessment if the parent/young person, governing body or principle of the educational provision requests one, so long as it has been more than 6 months since the last EHC assessment

The LA do not have to reassess if they consider that a further assessment is not necessary, however you will have the right to appeal against the decision if they refuse.

If you already have the evidence of the changes needed, it may be more effective to request that the EHC plan is amended after a review. This could be after an annual review or you could request an early review.

In the first instance you should contact the school and ask to speak to the SENCO. They are very experienced and should be able to help you.

Alternatively you can contact the SIAS Team for support. You can contact this team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

If you have an EHC Plan you should ask the school to call an emergency annual review. The school may also do this if they feel that they are no longer meeting needs and a different type of school may be required. At the annual review, you will have the opportunity to make a formal request for a change of schools and explain why you feel a new school is needed.

Following the review, the LA will consider the request and will write to you informing you of whether they agree to the request for a change of schools and advising you of next steps. If the LA do not agree to a change of schools, you have the right to appeal to the SEND tribunal against the decision.

If you would like further advice, you can contact the SIAS Team for support. You can contact this team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

A child/young person must have an EHC Plan to attend a special school/college. Be sure the school you are asking for can meet the needs of your child, and a visit to the school would be advisable.

For further advice and support with this speak to your school/college or alternatively you can contact the SIAS Team for advise by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

If the school can no longer meet the needs of the child/young person they need to call an emergency review and inform the Southwark SEN Team of the situation.

You can speak to your EHC Coordinator or contact Southwark’s SEN Team on 0207 525 4278 or by emailing sen@southwark.gov.uk.

For further advice and support you contact the SIAS Team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

The school/setting SENCO would be the best person to discuss this with. The SIAS Team can also offer advice and support to parents on how best to get their concerns heard.

You can contact the SIAS Team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

The SIAS Team can help with advice, drafting letters, or attending school meetings with the parent/young person if necessary.

There are also a variety of support groups in the Information, Advice and Support section of the Local Offer which may help you.

You contact the SIAS Team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

Reduced timetables ^{(pdf, 31kb)} are used very rarely and should only be considered as part of a short term plan to re-integrate a child for example after a medical procedure. The plan should be agreed with the parent and young person. The school need to inform the LA of the plan and ensure that full time school attendance is secured as soon as possible in accordance with the agreement made. Every child/young person is legally entitled to 25 hours per week of full time education.

If you have any concerns with part time arrangements you can contact the SIAS Team to discuss. You can contact the SIAS Team by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

Ask for a meeting with the school SENCO to discuss your concerns.  You can also request for support from the SIAS Team can advise, help draft letters and support at meetings where needed. You contact SIAS by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

If you believe the reason your child has been permanently excluded is due to their SEN or disability, the parent or young person has the right to ask for a SEN expert to attend the permanent exclusion review panel process.

For further information visit the Exclusion section which gives information and advice on where to go for help.

The parent/young person should inform the Southwark SEN Team of when and where they are moving to. You can do this by contacting your EHC Coordinator or the SEN Team by calling 020 7525 4278 or emailing sen@southwark.gov.uk if you do not know who your EHC Coordinator is.  It is the responsibility of Southwark, as the ‘old’ authority to transfer the EHC plan to the new authority within 15 working days of being informed of the move.

The new LA then has six weeks to notify the parent or young person that the EHC plan has been transferred, and to let them know when it is going to review the EHC plan.

As soon as the EHC plan has transferred, the new LA has the same legal duties as if they had issued the EHC plan themselves. This includes ensuring the child or young person receives all of the special educational provision specified in Section F of his EHC plan.

If it is no longer practicable for the child or young person to attend the school or college named in Section I (perhaps because it is too far away) then the LA must arrange for them to attend another appropriate school until they review and amend the EHC plan. The LA will contact you to ask for your preference school/college as part of the consultation process.

All Councils have a SEND Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service if you need further advice or support. You can find the one in the area you are moving to by visiting the Council for Disabled Children website

You need to ask your current borough to send your file and inform Southwark that you are moving in and what your new address is. You can use the Local Offer to identify schools and services for when you arrive.

It is the responsibility of your 'old’ Local Authority to transfer the EHC plan to the Southwark within 15 working days of being informed of the move.

Southwark then has six weeks to notify the parent or young person that the EHC plan has been transferred, and to let them know when it is going to review the EHC plan.

As soon as the EHC plan has transferred, the new LA has the same legal duties as if they had issued the EHC plan themselves. This includes ensuring the child or young person receives all of the special educational provision specified in Section F of his/her EHC plan.

If it is no longer practicable for the child or young person to attend the school or college named in Section I (perhaps because it is too far away) then the LA must arrange for them to attend another appropriate school until they review and amend

Please contact the SIAS Team and arrange for an appointment to see one of the team. It is really helpful if you bring any reports or documentation with you. It is useful if you bring the child/young person to the meeting. We will talk to you about what you need to do and signpost you to appropriate services using the Local Offer. Please call 0207 525 3104 or email sias@southwark.gov.uk to request an appointment.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice: 0-25 years explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

You can download a copy on the government website by following this link.

The Department for Education has issued a guide, which explains the SEND Code of Practice to parents. You can download a copy here ^{(pdf, 566kb)}.

Click here to find out how and where to submit your complaint depending on what it is about.

The SIAS Team can also advise on how and who to make your complaint to. They can help draft a letter for the parent/young person if needed. You can contact SIAS by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.

You can contact the SIAS Team for information, advice and support. You can contact SIAS by calling 0207 525 3104, by emailing sias@southwark.gov.uk or attending a drop in.