Policies and legislation - SENCO Guide

There are a number of key legislative frameworks which govern your work as a SENCO.  As a SENCO, it is vital to have a good knowledge of the key aspects of each.

Related legislation and guidance

• Children and Families Act 
• Mental Capacity Act 
• Care Act 
• Equality Act 
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 
• SEND Review: right support, right place, right time
• The Equality Act advice for schools 
• Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions 
• Keeping children safe in education 
• Working together to safeguard children 
• School census 
• Governance handbook 
• What maintained schools should publish online 
• What academies should publish online 
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities regulations 2014 

Frameworks relating to school inspection

• Education inspection framework - September 2019
• School inspection handbook - September 2019

SEN Information Reports

All schools are required to publish a SEN Information Report.  A detailed breakdown that describes the contents of the SEN Information Report can be found in The Code (6.79 - 6.84).  This should be read in conjunction with section 69 of the Children and Families Act.

• Example of a SEN information report (from Manadon Vale Primary School)
• SEN self-evaluation tool (Word doc) [266KB]
• Training slides (PDF) [313KB]
• SEN information report regulations (PDF) [101KB]

SEN policy

All schools are required to have a SEN policy.  A key role of the SENCO is overseeing the operation of the policy (6.90).

Please see some documents below that will help you with policy writing, including an example of a SEN policy, written by a local school.

• Nasen help sheet: updating a SEN policy for schools (PDF) [419KB]
• Example of a SEN policy from Eggbuckland Vale Primary School

Accessibility planning

All schools are required to publish an 'accessibility plan' detailing how disabled pupils can participate in the school's curriculum.

Please see some documents below that can support you with writing an accessibility plan, including an example written by a local school. 

• Example of an accessibility plan (Eggbuckland Vale Primary School)
• Example Accessibility Plan template (Word doc) [21KB]

Equality objectives

All schools are required to publish 'equality objectives' and must comply with the 'public sector equality duty'.

Continue reading

• The School Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) Guide

Help and support

If you have any questions about SENCOs, please email SENAdmin@plymouth.gov.uk.

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This page is part of Plymouth's Local Offer and was last updated on 4 May 2022.