The Special Educational Needs Panel and it's role in the Staged Identification and Assessment Process.

What is the purpose of the Panel?

• To maintain standards and ensure consistency across the borough in the application of the Authority’s special educational needs identification and assessment procedures.
  
• To advise the Director of Education on the identification, assessment and provision for children with special educational needs having regard to the Revised SEN Code of Practice.
  
• To offer advice on the contents and style of proposed statements and make recommendations about the future provision and placement of pupils for whom statements are to be maintained.
  
• To exchange information between agencies about provision for children with special educational needs in Stockport.
  

How often does the Panel meet?
The Panel meets every two weeks. The Panel Administrator sends papers to panel members in advance and copies are made available for the Parent Partnership Worker.

Who are the members of the Panel?
A representative from each of the following services attend:

• Children and Young People's Disability Partnership
  
• Education Psychology Service
  
• Consultant Community Paediatrician (CCP)
  
• Learning Support Service
  
• Primary Education
  
• Secondary Education
  
• A Speech and Language Therapist
  
• Behaviour Support Service
  

What are the questions that panel members consider?

• Requests for additional support at School Action Plus for pre-school children and pupils with physical disabilities and complex needs.
  
• Requests for Statutory Assessment.
  The results of all Statutory Assessments including:
  
• Proposed statements
  
• Notes in lieu
  
• No to Statutory Assessments
  
• Requests for significant changes to provision following Annual Review
  

What happens when a name is put forward for Statutory Assessment?
The Panel members consider whether schools have:

• tried the strategies and resources at their disposal
  
• involved appropriate outside agencies.
  
• the Panel compares the evidence presented against the Stockport SEN criteria i.e. the severity and complexity of need, and the progress of the child.
  
• the panel takes account of the views of parents/carers and the pupils themselves.
  

What happens following an SEN Panel Meeting?

• The Panel Chair makes final decisions following discussions.
  
• The Panel Administrator and members keep information confidential.
  
• Parents/carers are informed by letter.
  
• Schools are informed by letter within one week of the Panel.