Special Education needs

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Some children may have special educational needs which could be physical, emotional or intellectual. They should be identified as early as possible. If you think that a child you care for may have special educational needs you should first discuss this with your child’s teacher.

The majority of children with statements continue their education in their local school, but there are also special schools, specialist provision in mainstream schools and specialist home services.
Parents and professionals who serve children can refer a child for a statutory assessment of special educational needs. In most instances, information is provided to schools to consider how they will meet needs in school. The Local Authority will consider the action taken by the school in considering whether to do an assessment.

Once a needs statement has been produced the child’s needs will be reviewed at least once a year and the parent or carer is encouraged to contribute to the review.
If a child is unable to attend school because of illness or injury for a significant length of time, home teaching can be arranged. Teachers in the children’s wards at Dewsbury District Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary help children continue their education while in hospital.

If parents do not agree with aspect of the statement of special educational needs they can discuss this with an officer of the Local Authority. If they are still not satisfied they can appeal to an independent regional tribunal.

Portage and Childcare Portage

Portage is a home-based teaching service for the families of pre-school children who show some delay in their development. The service aims to enable parents to teach their children in their own homes, supported by weekly visits from a Portage Home Visitor supervised by an Educational Psychologist.

Childcare Portage provides a service to children with extra needs in private day nurseries, family nurseries, playgroups or with childminders.

Central to the Portage philosophy is the emphasis placed on the partnerships between parents and professionals in the education of their own children.

Referrals can be made by parents themselves or by any professional directly involved with the family, with the parent’s agreement.

Portex

The Portex Team is one of the many teams that make up the Psychology and Specialist Outreach service. They work withchildren aged three to seven and their teachers, in mainstream schools, on a teaching programme to support the child’s learning. Portex draw up a positive, individual programme with the child’s teachers. They invite the child’s parents to share in the work done in school and sometimes make home visits. The Portex Teacher can give parents regular support in helping their child to learn. Portex support a working partnership between home and school and encourage a consistent approach by all the involved adults.

If you are concerned about your child’s progress at school or nursery, it is usually best to talk about this first with the Headteacher or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator. If you and the school feel that it is suitable to involve Portex, the school would then contact them.

Contact information

Gateway to Care

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