Policies and legislation - SENCO Guide

There are a number of key legislative frameworks that govern your work as a SENCO.  As a SENCO, it is vital to have a good knowledge of the key aspects of each.

Related legislation and guidance

• Children and Families Act 
• Mental Capacity Act 
• Care Act 
• Equality Act 
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 
• SEND Review: right support, right place, right time
• The Equality Act advice for schools 
• Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions 
• Keeping children safe in education 
• Working together to safeguard children 
• School census 
• Governance handbook 
• What maintained schools should publish online 
• What academies should publish online 
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities regulations 2014 

Frameworks relating to school inspection

• Education inspection framework - 2023
• School inspection handbook - 2024

SEN Information Reports

All schools are required to publish a SEN information report.  A detailed breakdown that describes the contents of the SEN information report can be found in The Code (6.79 - 6.84).  This should be read in conjunction with Section 69 of the Children and Families Act. Please find below a number of resources to support the writing and review of the SEN information report. The documents include an audit tool that has a focus on family coproduction and accessibility.

• Example of a SEN information report (from Manadon Vale Primary School)
• SEN Information Report Audit and Evaluation Tool 2024 (Word doc) [124KB]
• SEN self-evaluation tool (Word doc) [266KB]
• Training slides (PDF) [313KB]
• SEN information report regulations (PDF) [101KB]

SEN policy

All schools are required to have a SEN policy.  A key role of the SENCO is overseeing the operation of the policy (6.90).

Please see some documents below that will help you with policy writing, including an example of a SEN policy, written by a local school.

• Nasen help sheet: updating a SEN policy for schools (PDF) [419KB]
• Example of a SEN policy from Eggbuckland Vale Primary School

Accessibility planning

All schools are required to publish an 'accessibility plan' detailing how disabled pupils can participate in the school's curriculum.

Please see some documents below that can support you in writing an accessibility plan, including an example written by a local school. 

• Example of an accessibility plan (Eggbuckland Vale Primary School)
• Example Accessibility Plan template (Word doc) [21KB]

Equality objectives

All schools are required to publish 'equality objectives' and must comply with the 'public sector equality duty'.

Continue reading

• The School Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) Guide

Plymouth's Local Offer is organised into four main categories covering the following age ranges:

• Early years (0 to 5 years old)
• Primary (5 to 11 years old)
• Secondary (11 to 18 years old)
• Preparing for adulthood

 Plymouth Local Offer homepage

Is the information correct?

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