Education – statutory

Bracknell Forest Borough Council is the local education authority responsible for all children living in the Bracknell Forest area.  This includes responsibility for special educational needs.  By law the Director of Education, schools and parents have a duty to ensure that, as far as possible, children’s education is appropriate to any special needs that they may have.  It is possible that children will have special educational needs if they have learning difficulties that make it harder for them to learn than most other children of their age.  The duty to identify special needs can begin at birth for some children and it extends to the age of nineteen in some cases.  If you believe that your child has special educational needs, you should discuss this with your school, your GP or Health Visitor, and/or the Education Department.

Disability, Discrimination and Access

From September 2002 the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 came into effect.  It is an amendment to the existing Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and only protects children or adults who are defined as disabled according to that legislation.  Following this amendment, however, it became unlawful for education providers to treat disabled students less favourably than they would treat non disabled students.  Schools are now required to improve access to facilities and premises and provide information in the governing bodies’ annual reports about arrangements for disabled pupils at school.

Special Education provision

Full lists of education providers, including pre-schools, can be obtained from Family Resuorce Centre UK in Bracknell.  For details see entry in Early Years section.  The Special Educational Needs team at Seymour House will also provide lists.

This team has produced a free booklet called A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Bracknell Forest which clearly describes the different resources available in Bracknell to help children with special educational needs.  The contact details for the team are given later in this section.

There is also a free booklet published by the Department for Education and Skills (DCSF), called Special Educational Needs – A Guide for Parents and Carers, which describes the part parents play in the assessment process for determining the exact needs of a particular child.  For details of how to obtain this booklet, see entry in Publications section.  All education providers are aware of the procedures for identifying children with special educational needs.  The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (available from the DCSF, see Publications section) provides guidance on how children with special educational needs can be helped by their parents, pre-schools or schools, and the local education authority.

Statutory or Multi Professional Assessment

This may be required for children who have complex or severe special educational needs.  Parents, pre-schools and schools have the right to ask the LEA for a formal assessment of children’s needs if they are concerned about them.  An assessment will be carried out if there is evidence that the child has or is likely to have severe or complex special educational needs.  A range of professional people will be involved in this assessment, including the parents and any other professional agency involved with the child.

Statement of Special Educational Needs

A small minority of children will have severe or complex special educational needs and after a multi professional assessment, the LEA may issue a Statement of Special Educational Needs.  This describes the special educational needs of the child and the provision required to meet them.  The recommended time allowed for the whole process, from start of the assessment to the issuing of a statement is usually 26 weeks, although these limits may vary in exceptional circumstances.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals

If you are not happy with the decision made by the local education authority, either about their decision not to undertake an assessment or their refusal to issue a statement, you have a right to meet with someone from the LEA, a right of access to the independent disagreement resolution service and the right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.  Full details about these processes are in the booklets published by the DCSF (listed in the Publications section).   Your first point of contact will be the officer named in all the correspondence from the LEA.  There is a range of services available to help parents with this process, including the Parent Partnership Service and the Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA).  Their contact details are listed later in this section.

Selection of the right school

In many cases a mainstream school or pre-school will be able to meet the needs of a child, after having been given appropriate advice.  Sometimes additional support will be available in a particular school, or you will be guided towards a school that has special provision for a particular disability.  Within the Bracknell Forest area there is one school equipped for moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties, including those associated with autism.

In addition there are three primary schools and one secondary school equipped for pupils with special needs.

Parents have the right to express a preference for their child to attend a particular school, and the LEA must agree with their preference

• if the selected school is suitable for the ability and needs of the child
• if the child’s presence will not seriously affect the education of the other pupils
• and the placement will be an efficient use of the LEA’s resources, including transport costs

School Transport

Under the requirements of the Education Act 1996, the LEA will consider the provision of transport for pupils aged 2 to 19 years who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs.  In all cases the arrangements provided by the authority will be suitable to the child’s needs and will be efficient and cost effective.  If the provision of transport is identified, arrangements will be made by the Special Educational Needs team.

Special Educational Needs Team

Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Education Department
Seymour House
38 Broadway
Bracknell
RG12 1AU

The SEN team co-ordinates support for children with special educational needs across the Borough.  This involves co-ordination of the assessment and placement of children with severe or complex special educational needs, dealing with matters covered by the Code of Practice, including appeals, managing the budget for children who have Statements of Special Educational Needs and helping to plan future provision for children with special educational needs.

Educational Psychology Service

BFBC Education Department
Seymour House
38 Broadway
Bracknell
RG12 1AU

Educational psychologists have teaching experience and postgraduate professional qualifications in Psychology - the science of how people think, feel and behave.  They help children and young people who have difficulties with learning or behaviour or both, they help to solve problems that arise in groups, monitor how well children, their parents and their teachers get on after they have been given help, research new ways of working and provide training for others, particularly teachers.

Early Years Foundation Stage Inclusion Services FYFSIS (formerly TASS)

Adastron House
Crowthorne Road
Bracknell
RG12 7DG

The work of the EYFSIS is to assess and teach children from the age of 2 upwards who have special educational needs.  Work with children below the age of five who have developmental delay takes place either in the home, the pre-school setting or a children's centre.  For older children, EYFSIS assess and teach pupils with specific special educational needs and also support their parents and schools with educational advice and teaching.

Sensory Consortium Service

Local Office Base
Sensory Consortium Service
Adastron House
Crowthorne Road
Bracknell
RG12 7DG

This is a peripatetic teaching and advisory service available for children and young people with educational needs arising from a diagnosed hearing and/or visual impairment (0-19 years).  Specialist teachers work with the individual child within the context of the family, school and community from diagnosis through to entry to the work place.  In addition to specialist teaching qualifications, the team offers expertise in educational audiology, mobility, multi-sensory impairment and early years.  The teachers liaise closely with families and other professionals to enable and support appropriate educational provision and inclusion in mainstream schools.  Referrals can be from parents, health professionals, pre-schools or schools.

The Education Welfare Service

Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Seymour House
38 Broadway
Bracknell
RG12 1AU

The Education Welfare Service provides a welfare service to pupils and their families in partnership with schools.  There is a focus on promoting and maintaining good school attendance, but they also work with parents and carers, children, schools and other agencies in cases where children have been, or are likely to be, excluded from school.

The service provides a link between schools, families and other agencies, such as the Social Care Teams.  It may contribute to a child's Statement of Special Educational Needs.  It also provides support and advice to schools on attendance, children's social and emotional problems, child protection and the relevant legislation in respect of children.

Parent Partnership Service

Parent Partnership Officer
Seymour House
38 Broadway
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1AU

This is a service for all parents and carers of children who have, or might have, special educational needs, even if those needs have not been formally recognised.  It aims to help parents and carers play an informed and active role in their child’s education, by providing them with impartial information and guidance on special education issues and procedures.

Referrals can only be from parents and carers themselves, and support is provided by the Parent Partnership Officer, assisted by a team of trained volunteers (Independent Parental Supporters).  Support includes help in putting together written evidence about a child’s needs and attendance at meetings with education staff.  The service is confidential and no information will be shared with another agency without the prior consent of the parent or carer.

Behaviour and Educational Support Team (BEST)

The service promotes appropriate behaviour for successful learning through working in close partnership with schools and their staff, families of pupils (who have been referred) and in close partnership with other agencies.  Referrals generally come through the head teacher or other professional who in consultation identifies that support is needed for pupils, with behaviour management, in-service training, staff development and/or developing parenting skills.  The team works from a base at the Pines Primary School.  Members of the team are available between the hours of 8.30am and 4.30pm daily during term time.

Language and Literacy Centre

Crown Wood Primary School
Opladen Way
Bracknell
RG12 0PE

This caters for children in mainstream schools who have specific learning difficulties in literacy and who will benefit from the specialist teaching and intensive input offered at the centre.  The objectives of attendance are to improve literacy attainments, self esteem and confidence.  Teachers have a particular emphasis on a multi-sensory approach in the teaching of reading, spelling and writing.  Children usually attend the centre for one session a week over a maximum of five terms.  The teachers also work with the child’s mainstream school and parents to develop the pupil’s progress.

Education - non-statutory

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) Ltd

1c Aberdeen Studios
22 Highbury Grove
London
N5 2DQ

ACE is an independent non-profit making body offering confidential advice to parents and others on state funded education in England and Wales, through its advice lines and website.  This includes topics such as exclusions, bullying and special educational needs.  It publishes a bi-monthly magazine called ACE Bulletin, and Stop Press monthly.  It also publishes handbooks and guides for parents.  Advice is not available by e-mail unless you have a disability which prevents you accessing the telephone.  Please state this in an e-mail.

Afasic (Association For All Speech Impaired Children)

2nd Floor
50 - 52 Great Sutton Street
London
EC1V 0DJ

Afasic is the UK charity representing children and young adults with communication impairments, working for their inclusion in society and supporting their parents and carers.  Afasic provides children, young people, families and professionals with a telephone helpline service, training, conferences, information sheets, newsletters and publications, support through local groups, expertise in developing good practice and is a membership organisation.

Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Teachers and Students (ABAPSTAS)

Membership officer: Nick Clarke
ABAPSTAS
BM Box 6727
London
WC1N 3XX

This is a national self-help and campaigning organisation providing support to blind or visually impaired students and adults in the fields of education and employment.  There is an annual conference and a magazine published quarterly.

British Institute of Learning Disabilities - BILD

Campion House
Green Street
Kidderminster
DY10 1JL

BILD exists to improve the quality of life of all people with a learning disability.  It provides information, publications, training and consultancy services for organisations and individuals.

DELTA - Deaf Education Through Listening and Talking

3 Swan Court
Cygnet Park
Peterborough
PE7 8FD

Delta is a support group for parents and teachers of severely or profoundly deaf children who want their children to grow up speaking for themselves.  It provides information, literature, summer schools and weekends for families who want to learn how to help their children to speak for themselves.

Down’s Syndrome Education International

The Sarah Duffen Centre
Belmont Street
Southsea
Hampshire
PO5 1NA

This organisation exists to promote the development and educational opportunities of children with Down’s syndrome.

Down’s Syndrome Education International - Berkshire branch

This group is working to provide speech therapy and other educational tools to help integrate children with Down’s syndrome into mainstream education in Berkshire.  They have regular meetings.  For further details please contact Kate.

Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre

Frensham
Farnham
Surrey
GU10 3 BW

This is a charity with the mission of maximising educational opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for dyslexics of all ages.  The centre’s staff, including specialist teachers, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and counsellors, provide a range of services to meet the individual needs of dyslexic students, teachers and schools.  They will undertake individual assessments and organise one to one tuition.  They also run courses for teachers, parents and children.  In addition, the centre has a book shop, operating a mail order service, with a range of literature and computer software.

British Dyslexia Association

Unit 8, Bracknell Beeches
Old Bracknell Lane
Bracknell  RG12 7BW

This association aims to influence government and other institutions to promote a dyslexia-friendly society, by raising awareness of the issues, and developing services that will help dyslexic people to achieve their full potential.  Helpline manned by volunteers to provide information and advice for problems associated with dyslexia.

Berkshire Dyslexia Association

This local organisation provides support and advice for parents with children who are dyslexic.  It also arranges Saturday classes for students, has a local tutors list and runs the Berkshire teachers support group which meets twice a term.

Gabbitas Educational Consultants

Carrington House
126 - 130 Regent Street
London
W1B 5EE

Gabbitas is an independent educational consultancy offering advice to parents and students about education in the UK.  While its primary focus is on mainstream schooling, information is also available on independent special schools and mainstream independent schools offering provision for particular special educational needs.

The consultants also provide independent assessments of students or can direct parents to professionals who will undertake independent assessments.  Furthermore, they annually publish a comprehensive guide to special needs schools entitled Schools for Special Needs: a complete guide (see details in Publications section).

Global Mediation Ltd (SEN)

Constable House
5 Bulwer Road
Barnet
EN5 5JD

If you are experiencing difficulty in resolving a disagreement over your child’s special educational needs, this mediation service is available.  It is funded by central government and is completely independent of schools and the local education authority.

The service is provided free of charge to parents/carers and does not affect your ability to refer a case to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, or interfere in any way with other legal rights.  A mediation meeting can be arranged within the time limits for registering an appeal to the SEN tribunal.

Home Education Advisory Service (HEAS)

PO Box 98
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL8 6AN

HEAS is a registered charity which gives advice and information to parents who wish to educate their children at home in preference to sending them to school.  HEAS has a range of publications and leaflets on different aspects of home education.  Subscribers receive a quarterly bulletin, a registration card, a regional list of subscribers as well as access to an advice line and a collection of loan items.

I CAN

4 Dyer's Buildings
Holborn
London
EC1N 2QP

I CAN is the children’s communication charity.  I CAN works on fostering the development of speech and language skills in all children with a special focus on those who find this hard: children with a communication disability.

I CAN provides a combination of specialist therapy and education for children with the most severe and complex disabilities, information for parents, and training and advice for teachers and other professionals.  We also work to ensure that the needs of these children are taken into account in all children's policy and carry out research to find out the best ways to support these children.

Independent Panel for Special Education Advice - IPSEA

6 Carlow Mews
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 1EA

IPSEA is a volunteer-based national charity which gives free advice and support to parents of children with special educational needs, covering assessment, the statement process, and local education authorities’ legal duties under the 1996 Education Act.  They also undertake tribunal work.  Please send an A4 size stamped addressed envelope to the above address for further information.

National Association for Tertiary Education for Deaf People (NATED)

161 Mount Pleasant
Southcrest
Redditch
B97 4JJ

NATED promotes post-16 education for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.  It aims to enable these learners to access their chosen learning programmes and achieve their desired outcome.

Network 81

1 - 7 Woodfield Terrace
Stansted
Essex
CM24 8AJ

This is a national organisation supporting parents through the assessment and statementing process.  There is a national helpline, literature for parents and links with other organisations.

Network 81 - Local Befriender

Contact Network 81 above for details.

Parents for Inclusion Helpline

Winchester House
Kennington Park Business Estate
Cranmer Road
London
SW9 6EJ

The helpline is for parents and professionals.  It offers advice, listening, befriending and information to families trying to achieve mainstream education for their disabled children.  It also offers training, both to parents and professionals.

Primary Movement

Primary Movement
The Foyer
3 – 5 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 6RT

Primary Movement is a programme designed to enhance the maturation of the central nervous system of children with specific learning difficulties, through movement.  The major focus is to promote early intervention through movement and to support scientific research in this area.  The Primary Movement organisation trains teachers in this method and maintains a database of trained teachers on its website.

Contents of the guide:

Introduction
1. Access
2. Advocacy
3. Counselling
4. Early Years
5. Education
6. Equipment, Mobility and Transport
7. Financial Matters
8. Health
9. Holidays
10. Information Technology
11. Leisure
12. Local Support
13. National Organisations
14. Publications
15. Short Breaks
16. Social Services and Housing
17. Transition
18. Working Parents/Carers

Index