Category of Need

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SEND Category of Need

The document on the right hand side contains guidance on how to record SEND in the pupil level school census.  It is particularly important that SENCOs review the data for the January school census to make sure it is as up-to-date and accurate as possible, as this is the only census of the year where the “SEN type” data item is collected, and this is therefore used to produce statistical analysis that is widely used by schools and the Local Authority.

Where the pupil has an EHC plan or IPRA, the school profile sent out in September also contained details of how the LA has recorded the pupil’s needs.  Schools have been asked to either update their record in SIMS to match, or  if school feel   the category needs to be changed, any changes to the EHCP/Statement/IPRA, including the category of need, would need to be agreed following a review,  to which evidence to support any change would need to be provided by the school. Should an additional diagnosis (for example ASD) be made between reviews, schools should contact their SEN Officer to discuss whether this affects the category of need. Until changes have been agreed with the LA,  the original category of need should  continue to be recorded on the census.

We would like to remind schools that pupils with an IPRA should have their “SEN provision” code recorded as K (for SEN Support) with the “top-up funding” indicator marked True.  This will generate a query when the census is submitted, but the LA will add an explanation when the data is submitted to the DfE.

The SEN type codes for the census collection are also set in context with some descriptors from the latest code of practice along with previous DfE guidance to help schools decide which category to use for the “SEN type” indicator.  Schools should discuss with the LA whether the type of need is still accurate at each annual review and the SENCO should also review the data held in SIMS for pupils with SEN Support in advance of the January census collection every year.  This will help to ensure that we have correct information that is consistent across schools on which to base decisions about support and training requirements, and to measure the effectiveness of interventions for pupils with SEND at a school and LA level as well as for individual pupils.

 

 

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Page last reviewed: 21/02/2024

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