This list of SEND frequently asked questions (FAQs) will be continually updated based on conversations between Barnet services and our community.
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Question
What's new on the Local Offer website?
Answer
The Local Offer homepage has been redesigned in collaboration with families and young people who chose the new look. We hope that the homepage relaunch will make it easier to find the right support, when you need it. We will continue to listen to and work in close partnership with the Barnet community to make improvements on the rest of the website.
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Question
Who are the Barnet Parent Carer Forum and what support do they provide to parent carers?
Answer
The Barnet Parent Carer Forum (BPCF) are a voluntary group of parents and family carers in the London Borough of Barnet working with the local authority to ensure that the voices of our children young people with SEND and their families are heard. Barnet Parent Carer Forum is part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF). BPCF are actively seeking more Barnet parents and carers to join their organisation to help improve services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. Members receive regular information about issues that are important to their family, have an opportunity to meet other parent carers and are invited to participate in events where parents/carers have direct discussions with local services and decision makers. All members receive BPCF updates by email and more information can be found at www.barnetpcf.org.uk
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Question
What is the Barnet Local Inclusion Support Offer (LISO)?
Answer
Led by our Specialist Inclusion Services, this offer covers support for young people from early years to post-16, the parent carer form and schools/settings. We have created a video to explain what this offer involves. Click here to watch the video
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Question
Do you have any toolkits for school staff supporting children and young people with SEND?
Answer
Yes, there are a number of online toolkits available in the SENCO zone on the Local Offer. These toolkits offer a range of practical strategies that can support settings with developing their inclusive classroom practice and wider school approaches. Click here to browse the toolkits
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Question
What makes an effective SEN Support Plan?
Answer
An SEN Support Plan is a holistic plan for children and young people with identified special educational needs (SEN) that require provision that is different from or additional to that normally available to pupils of the same age (SEND Code of Practice, 2015). An effective SEN Support Plan needs to reflect the four-stage cycle of Assess – Plan – Do – Review and involve parent carers and the child or young person at the earliest stage. A graduated approach should ensure that earlier decisions and actions are revisited, refined and revised with a growing understanding of needs and what supports the child or young person to make good progress and secure good outcomes.
The purpose of a plan is to help children or young people to achieve outcomes set for them by the school or setting with parents/carer and child/young people involvement, where appropriate.
The provision made for children or young people with SEN should be recorded accurately and kept up to date. As part of any inspection, Ofsted will expect to see evidence of pupil progress and attainment over time, a focus on outcomes and a rigorous approach to the monitoring and evaluation of SEN provision.
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