What We Do

We will seek to ensure that all children and young people identified as having special educational needs within the county borough have access to a broad and balanced curriculum, the school environment and all relevant information.

We will support schools, in partnership with families and other agencies, in achieving this aim within each pupil’s local mainstream school wherever practicable.


Some of the key functions of the Service

• To contribute to the identification, assessment and review of the special educational needs of children and young people from 0 to 19 years of age.
  
  
• To support schools in managing the process of inclusion.
  
  
• To make special provision for children and young people with special educational needs.
  
  
• To provide in-service training for staff who are making special educational provision and others, such as school governors, who have a responsibility for overseeing special educational provision.
  
  
• To liaise with other statutory and non-statutory agencies to ensure effective, efficient and equitable planning and delivery for provision for children and young people with special educational needs.
  
  
• To provide parental advice, guidance and support.
  
  
• To represent the Authority on regional and national bodies and contribute to wider research and strategic initiatives.
  

Range of services provided by the Access and Inclusion Service

The Service directly manages or supports schools in making provision for the following range of needs:

• Visual impairment
  
• Hearing Impairment
  
• Communication and Interaction disorders
  
• Motor/physical disabilities
  
• Specific learning difficulties
  
• General learning difficulties
  

The team also has responsibility for the following areas:

• More able and talented pupils
  
• Elective home education
  
• English as an additional language
  
• ICT Technical advice in relation to ALN
  
• Educational otherwise