Education
If you have any concerns around your child’s education, their ability to access education or are looking for extra support from their setting, we recommend contacting your schools Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) in the first instance. All settings are required to have an appointed SENCo who is responsible for coordinating the people, processes and plans required to support children’s needs in school.
Additional support in school
Although not every child needs additional support in school, we are aware that some do. If you feel that this is the case for your child we would recommend having a discussion with their class teacher and/or the school SENCo. School will then be able to explore your concerns, undertake observations or assessments as needed and pull together a plan to support your child as required. This may at times include assessments and advice from other services such as the Educational Phycologist team or Social Communication and Interaction team.
SEN Support Plans
If additional support is required to meet a child's needs in school, an SEN support plan is likely to be started which will use a graduated approach to supporting a child or young person with SEN. You may hear staff talking about "assess-plan-do-review" cycles which form part of the SEN support planning. Your school SENCo will explain this in further detail with you and as parents/carers, you should be involved in the planning and reviewing of these plans.
What are Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)?
EHCP plans are for children and young people with special educational needs who require support beyond that which an educational setting can normally provide as part of their core offer. The plan is a legally binding document which outlines the educational, health and social care needs of a child as well as the provision to meet these needs. An EHCP is often initiated by the SENCo from your child's nursery, school or college but can also be started by parents.
Choosing a education setting for your child
Many parents of autistic children have difficulties finding the right school. Here we talk about finding local schools, your child’s rights, the different types of schools, and how to get the most out of school visits.
School admissions and transfers
Funded places for younger children
There are a range of options available to families in Barnsley with younger children including free childcare for children aged two and 30 hours free childcare for three to four year olds. More information is available via the local authorities webpage using the link below.