Related Advice

• What is the Local Offer?
  Reading's Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families information about what support and services are available in the local area.  It will help parents, carers, and young people to see clearly the range of services, support, and…
• Education Health & Care Plans (EHCP)
  Education Health & Care Plans (EHCP) Schools in England must provide support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) as part of their standard offer to children. This is called SEND support. Where a child/young person requires additional support that goes beyond what…
• EHC Needs Assessment - Timeline - Reading Guide for Parents & Carers
  Reading’s Criteria for Starting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for a Child or Young Person  Introduction: These criteria, which are used when considering a request to start an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, should be seen as a guide as each child/young…
• ORDINARILY AVAILABLE statement - Provision the local authority (BFfC) expects to be made available by schools, early years and post-16 providers & SEND Support in Mainstream Schools
  Statement of the special education provision expected to be ordinarily available in Reading settings, schools and colleges for children with special educational needs and/or disability aged 0 to 25 Taken from the special educational needs code of practice 0-25 years- statutory guidance (2015) Section 1.24…
• Disagreements, Mediation, Tribunals & Appeals
  Updated October 2021
• Capital Fund Plan to support development of Specialist Education Provision for Children & Young People with Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs)
  Brighter Futures For Children, Reading Capital Fund Plan to support development of Specialist Education Provision for Children & Young People with Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) Capital Fund Plan - May 2019 Introduction The Government has committed some funding to support local authorities to invest…
• Reading Families' Forum (RFF)
  Reading Families’ Forum are the local parent carer forum. Our board of trustees and steering group are all volunteers and have children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities ourselves. We understand what it is like to care for a child with additional…
• Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (SENDIASS)
  Reading Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (Reading IASS)- The service was formerly called the Parent Partnership Service. It offers free confidential and impartial advice and support to Reading parents and carers who have children (up to the age of 25) with special educational needs or disabilities.…
• SEND Guide for Parent Carers
  A quick and easy guide for parent carers of children and young people with special educational needsand/or disabilities (SEND). This guide has been put together with parent carers, in partnership with other services, to help families access information on local SEND services for children, young people with…
• SEND Pre-Diagnosis - Are you Concerned about your child?
  As a parent you know your child best and will be aware of how he or she is growing and developing. Sometimes as a parent, you may become concerned about your child’s development and, when this is the case, it is helpful to know who…
• SEND Definitions - Areas of Special Educational Needs/Disabilities
  The related links on this page will provide guidance of some of the SEND definitions that are commonly asked about by parents/carers and professionals. Updated May 2022
• SEND News, Information & Workshops/Courses
  Keeping families up to date with changes is important, along with interesting and informative news items… SEND News, Information & Workshops/Courses Disability News Service Easy Read Online Easy News - Easy News is the first news magazine designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities…
• Direct Payments - Employing a personal assistant for your child using Direct Payments - a guide for parents and carers (BFfC)
  Direct Payments - a guide for parents and carers to employing a Personal Assisitant (PA) for your child using a Direct Payment (BFfC) provides step-by-step guidance on how to employ a personal assistant for your child using a direct payment from BFfC. You can view…