Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.         

A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:

• has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age,

or

• has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.

Many children and young people who have additional needs require support from a range of services, including health. The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice sets out the statutory duties for health, education and social care to listen to families and provide the right range of services so that children, young people and young adults with SEND up to the age of 25 years old can achieve their potential.

Our vision for children and young people with SEND is the same as for all children and young people in Lancashire and South Cumbria; that they live happy, healthy lives and are supported to fulfil their potential as a child, young person and through transition into adulthood. We have an executive lead responsible for SEND and a team dedicated to SEND within the children and young people’s team. We have a plan to improve how we support children and young people with SEND across Lancashire and South Cumbria and regularly report back to our SEND assurance group and quality committee.