Special educational needs
is defined in the Education (N Ireland) Order 1996 as meaning that a child
has a learning difficulty or a disability which calls for special educational
provision to be made available. To determine if a child requires a statement
of special educational needs the Board may carry out a statutory assessment.
A statutory assessment is a multi-disciplinary assessment of a child's needs
to decide if a statement of special educational needs is required. The process
requires the Board to seek parental, educational, medical, psychological
and social services advice, together with any other advice which may be
considered desirable. Parents will be informed of the name of a Board officer
who will be available to offer help and support during the process. Advice
is also available from a range of voluntary
organisations.
A statement of special educational needs is a document that sets out the
child's needs and the special help that will be provided to help meet those
needs. The protection of a statement will be afforded to children whose
needs are such that resources additional to, or different from those normally
available in mainstream schools must be allocated. The Code of Practice
on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs indicates
that approximately 2% of children will have such needs. To decide if a statement
is necessary the Board may carry out a statutory assessment.
Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational
Needs
Copies of the Code of Practice are available free of charge from the Special
Education
Branch of the Department of Education
(tel: 028 9127 9939 / 9127 9942)
Dispute Avoidance & Resolution Service (DARS)
Downloads
Request For Statutory Assessment Of A Child’s Special Educational Needs Form (SAR1).pdf
Support Services
The Board provides a range of support services at Stages 3 - 5 of the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, including:
- services for pupils with speech, language and communication difficulties
- services for pupils with a sensory impairment
- services for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties
- services for pupils with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia)
- services for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- services for pupils with moderate learning difficulties
EDUCATION
OFFICER (SPECIAL EDUCATION)
The Education Officer (Special Education) is based at SEELB Headquarters:
Grahamsbridge Road Dundonald
Belfast BT16 2HS
Tel: 028 9056 6200 Fax: 028 9056 6916
E-mail: special.education@
seelb.org.uk
Downloads (For Schools Only)
