Statutory guidance

SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years

• From: Department for Education and Department of Health
• Part of: Secondary school teachers: useful information, Primary school teachers: useful information, School leadership teams: useful information, Schools: statutory guidance, Special educational needs and disability (SEND), and Special educational needs and disability (SEND)
• Published: 11 June 2014
• Last updated: 1 May 2015, see all updates
• Applies to: England

Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.

Document

Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years

Ref: DFE-00205-2013 PDF, 3.23MB, 292 pages

Details

This statutory code contains:

• details of legal requirements that you must follow without exception
• statutory guidance that you must follow by law unless there’s a good reason not to

It explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

The code, which applies to England, is for:

• headteachers and principals
• governing bodies
• school and college staff
• special educational needs (SEN) coordinators
• early education providers
• local authorities
• health and social services staff

This document replaces the ‘Special educational needs (SEN): code of practice’ 2001. The 2001 code still applies for those who have a SEN statement under part 4 of the Education Act 1996, rather than an education, health and care (EHC) plan under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Other SEND guides are also available.

Document information

Published: 11 June 2014

Updated: 1 May 2015

+ full page history

1. 1 May 2015 Removed version of SEND code that was valid until 31 March 2015. Clarified when 2001 SEND code is still applicable.
2. 29 January 2015 Published the revised 'SEN and disability code of practice 0 to 25 years' which comes into effect on 1 April 2015.
3. 15 August 2014 Added link to the 'SEND: guide for parents and carers' page.
4. 30 July 2014 Updated the 'SEND code of practice: 0 to 25' document. It comes into force on 1 September 2014.
5. 22 July 2014 Updated transitional and savings provisions document includes substantial changes throughout.
6. 11 June 2014 First published.

From: Department for Education Department of Health

Part of: Secondary school teachers: useful information Primary school teachers: useful information School leadership teams: useful information Schools: statutory guidance Special educational needs and disability (SEND) Special educational needs and disability (SEND)