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Statutory guidance

Special educational needs (SEN) code of practice

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This document remains valid until 2018, for people who entered the SEND support system before September 2014.

The new statutory ‘SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years’, came into force on 1 September 2014. Separate guidance on managing the change to the new SEND support system is also available. Everyone receiving support will have transferred from the old system to the new by 2018.

From:
Department for Education
Part of:
Schools: statutory guidance and Special educational needs and disability (SEND)
Published:
1 November 2001
Applies to:
England

Statutory code of practice on special educational needs.

Documents

Special educational needs (SEN) code of practice

Ref: ISBN 1 84185 5294, DfES/581/2001 PDF, 3.23MB, 217 pages

Details

This statutory code is for:

  • headteachers
  • governing bodies
  • school staff
  • SEN coordinators
  • early education providers
  • health and social services staff
  • local authorities

It applies to:

  • maintained schools
  • pupil referral units (PRUs)
  • academies and free schools
  • non-maintained special schools

The code explains the duties on schools to:

  • provide reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils
  • provide auxiliary aids and services to disabled pupils

More information and a practical guide to these duties are available on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s website.

A guide for parents and carers on the main points of the SEN code of practice is also available.

This code relates to:

The new ‘Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years’ has now been published and comes into effect on 1 September 2014.

Document information

Published: 1 November 2001

From: Department for Education

Part of: Schools: statutory guidance Special educational needs and disability (SEND)