Southwark Education, Learning and Achievement logo Southwark Education, Learning and Achievement
Sign in

Sign in to Southwark Education, Learning and Achievement or Complete a task any time of day with your dedicated, personalised account Create account

SEND Service Team

The SEND Service Team supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0-25 in Southwark.  

 

The service oversees arrangements for Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) to provide children and young people with the support they need to learn. We work closely with families, education settings, health, and social care to ensure support is joined up. 

 

What can the SEND Service Team help with?

  • Processing education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment requests.
  • Carrying out EHC needs assessments when required.
  • Co-producing, writing and issuing EHCPs for those who are assessed as requiring one.
  • Attending annual review meetings and processing annual review outcomes.
  • This is a principle of work, not an offer.

 

How to access our service

Most children and young people with SEND have their needs met in local mainstream early years settings, schools, or colleges (SEND Code of Practice, Chapters 5, 6, and 7).  

However, some children and young people may need additional support to meet their outcomes. If an educational setting believes an EHCP may be needed, it should request an EHC needs assessment. The council will assess the evidence to decide whether an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is necessary. 

Educational settings are expected to consult with other professionals and make full use of their delegated budget to meet a child or young person’s SEND needs before requesting a needs assessment. 

When considering a request for an assessment, Southwark Council will look for evidence that the early years provider, school, or post-16 institution has taken relevant and purposeful action to identify, assess, and meet the child or young person’s special educational needs, but that the child or young person has still not made expected progress. 

Important: If an educational setting requests an EHC needs assessment, they must ensure that the child/young person is in agreement and has given consent, and/or the parent/carer if the young person is under 16. 

 

How to contact us