Supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Bromley educational settings involves a structured, three-stage approach designed to provide appropriate assistance at every level. This is called the Graduated Approach.
1. Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP)
This foundational stage encompasses the support that all children and young people, including those with SEND, can expect in educational settings. It includes high-quality teaching, reasonable adjustments, and targeted interventions to address individual needs. The goal is to prevent barriers to learning, ensuring all children and young people can access an excellent education and fulfil their potential. Examples of ordinarily available provision could be:
- a time out card or movement break
- a careful seating position in class
- noise cancelling headphones
- access to a safe space
2. SEN support
If a child's or young person’s needs cannot be met through Ordinarily Available Provision alone, education settings may implement SEN support after having performed an assess, plan, do, review process. SEN support involves a more tailored approach, often including specific interventions and support strategies to meet the unique needs of the child or young person. The aim is to provide the right support at the right time, enabling children and young people to progress effectively. Learn more about SEN support.
3. Education, Health and Care plans (EHC plans, often referred to as EHCP)
Most children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) will have their needs met from within an education setting’s own resources through the Ordinarily Available Provision or SEN support. A small number of children and young people will need additional support beyond what the setting would normally be expected to provide – in which case they may be eligible for an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan, often referred to as an EHCP).
An EHC plan is a legal document that describes a pupil's SEND needs and the support they need to help them to get the best outcomes when they become adults.
To decide whether an EHC plan is necessary, the pupil will need to undergo an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment. Learn more about EHC plans.
By following the structured framework of the Graduated Approach, Bromley education settings are committed to create an inclusive environment where all children and young people, regardless of their individual challenges, have the opportunity to thrive.
Who to speak to
When you know what education setting your child or young person will be going to you should speak to the head teacher or the SENCO about your child’s or young person's needs. This will help the education setting decide how to best support your child or young person to give them the best possible start to their education.
What is a SENCO and how can they help
A Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is a staff member who’s responsible for making sure children and young people with extra needs receive the help they need. They are your point of contact. They support with:
- the identification of children and young people with special educational needs
- resources to help with individual needs
- speaking with parents to make sure their children and young people are receiving the right help for them
- speaking with providers outside of school, for example educational psychologists
A SENCO’s goal is to develop ways of overcoming barriers to your child's or young person's learning.
Find advice on how to speak to your SENCO on Scope's website.
How to prepare for a conversation with your education setting
It can help to write down a list of things you have noticed to speak to your education setting about.
This could include:
- what makes you think your child or young person has special educational needs
- what people working with your child or young person have noticed
- find out what you can do to help
- what the education setting can do to help
- any difficulties your child or young person experiences outside of their education setting
There is useful guidance on how to communicate with education settings on the Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) webpage.