The long-awaited SEN & Disability Green Paper ‘Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability’ was launched on the 9th of March by Sarah Teather, Minister of State for Children and Families. The Green Paper makes wide-ranging proposals to respond to the frustrations of children and young people, their families and the professionals who work with them.
The vision set out in the SEN & Disability Green Paper has been informed by the views and expertise of families, teachers, local authorities, health professionals and national and local organisations working with them.
Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability proposes:
• a new approach to identifying SEN through a single Early Years setting-based category and school-based category of SEN
• a new single assessment process and Education, Health and Care Plan by 2014
• local authorities and other services will set out a local offer of all services available
• the option of a personal budget by 2014 for all families with children with a statement of SEN or a new Education, Health and Care Plan
• parents will be given a real choice of school, either a mainstream or special school
• greater independence to the assessment of children’s needs will be introduced
You can download a pdf of the Green Paper: Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability here. http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/SEND%20Green%20Paper.pdf
There is also an executive summary available to read here. http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/b0075291/sen-and-disability-green-paper---executive-summary
A consultation on the SEN & Disability Green Paper is now being held until 30 June 2011. Have your say here.
http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationId=1748&external=no&menu=1