Education

Blackboard and chalks

Education is a large and important part of life for children. Since the law changed in 2013, all young people must now stay in some form of education or training until they are 18 years old. This means that it is of great importance that children are in the best educational setting to meet their needs. For most, this will be in one of Essex’s 543 mainstream primary or secondary schools and academies. However, some children will require a more specialised setting in one of the 19 special schools in Essex.

Every school is required to have a teacher who is responsible for Special Educational Needs; usually referred to as a SENCO. The Special Educational Needs Coordinator will work closely with parents, teachers, support staff and other agencies to ensure that the child’s needs are met through appropriate support and high quality teaching. To find out the name of the SENCO, contact the school.

All schools and academies are required to make arrangements to support children with additional needs. As of September 2014, every school has to publish a SEN Information Report, which details the school’s arrangements for identifying, assessing and making provision for pupils with SEN. It must also include information about the arrangements for the admission of disabled pupils, facilities provided to assist access and the schools accessibility plan. This should be updated annually. Schools should try to publish this information on their website. To help you locate this information, there are links in this section to take you to individual school websites.

When a child finishes school, they may choose to continue their education at a college of Further Education or at university. In this section you will also find information from colleges and universities about how they support learners with additional needs.

Adult Community Learning - Bishops Hill College