| 5.1 |
Medway Local Authority (LA) will work
in partnership with schools and governing bodies to ensure that
they (as well as the LA): |
| a) |
meet their statutory responsibilities
for Special Education Needs (SEN) identified in the Education
Act 1996 (www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/1996056.htm)
and subsequent legislation; |
| b) |
have due regard for the Department
for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) SEN Code of
Practice; |
| c) |
have a Special Educational Needs
Co-ordinator (SENCO)/Inclusion Manager who is aware of his/her
duties and performing these accordingly; |
| d) |
appoint a school governor with
responsibility for SEN who is aware of his/her duties and
performing these accordingly; |
| e) |
operate a system for monitoring,
evaluating and recording the progress of each child which is made
available to all teachers who teach the child; |
| f) |
report to parents on the
effectiveness of their SEN Policy. |
| 5.2 |
The LA will seek to empower schools,
in ways including through delegation of appropriate resources, to
provide: |
| a) |
access for all pupils to a broad and
balanced curriculum which embraces the National Curriculum; |
| b) |
challenging educational experiences
of a high quality; |
| c) |
early identification of a child's
needs; |
| d) |
defined teaching objectives with
intended outcomes for each child, based on the early assessment of
need; |
| e) |
a differentiated curriculum and
in-class support where appropriate; |
| f) |
resources that are deployed in an
effective way to promote a child's learning; |
| g) |
intervention without the need to seek
a statutory assessment and a Statement of SEN; |
| 5.3 |
Medway LA will undertake to support
schools in their statutory duty by providing advice and support
through the Learning Support Service, LA Advisers, the SEN Team and
Educational Psychologists. The LA's central staff will also advise
and contribute to in-service education, training and professional
events organised by a school in line with standard
arrangements. |
| 5.4 |
The LA has a responsibility to ensure
that resources are being used effectively. It will therefore work
closely with schools in monitoring provision made for children with
SEN and ensuring full accountability for all resources
allocated/received. |
| 5.5 |
The LA recognises that for some
children with complex or profound needs, supplementary provision
may be required either through a Statement of SEN or through
delegated resources for this additional need. |
| 5.6 |
In partnership with schools, the LA
will seek to evaluate the effectiveness of the National Literacy
Scheme and the National Numeracy Scheme in raising the levels of
attainment in literacy and numeracy of pupils with SEN. |