What is the process for getting services for special needs children?

Answer 1

For the United Kingdom. Getting special needs provision is quite a complex process. If your child isn't already registered, you can contact your local children with disabilities team and ask for your child to be "put on the record". This is purely a database recording the needs of the children in the area. Also, you will be designated a support worker who can get your child leisure passes and things such as radar keys. Also, you should ask for a social services needs assessment. A social worker will visit you at home and you can chat about the needs of your child. If successful, and you meet criteria, you will be able to choose from receiving respite/time out care within the resources of the area, or to receive direct payments for you to employ someone to help you with the needs of the child for a few hours a week. With regard to help in school, you can get a statutory assessment done of the child. The local education authority will carry out a series of assessments. They will also ask for advice from professionals involved with the child such as social work team, behaviour support, sensory support, occupational therapy, medical advise and always the view of the school, parent and educational phsycologist. Dependant on the advice submitted, the local educational authority will decide whether a statement is required. However that is a very brief over view of the statementing process. You will need to check with the school that your child is at school action plus stage, and that school have already got care plans/individual education/behaviour plans in place. Every local education authority have a designated parent partnership service, and they are paramount in helping parents through the statementing service. You can find all these details and more on the direct gov website, on your councils website under either education or social care, or ask to speak with the SENCO at the school. Upon receiving a statement, you may be granted 1 to 1 support for several hours a week within school to help your child. There will also be guidelines of how the curriculum and structure of classes should be adapted to suit the needs of your child.