Coronavirus (COVID-19)

During the coming weeks, we know that some schools and colleges are closing or partially closing, which will affect EHC assessments, EHCP reviews and provision in school during this time. All of our advice for schools and parents about Coronavirus and its impact on SEND is available here.

Devon Information Advice and Support (DiAS) also offer information about coronavirus, school, education and SEND.

Inclusive Education

We’re ensuring we have an inclusive education culture and remove barriers to learning for every Devon child.

We want all children and young people to have access to good or better education settings in their local community, where they can achieve their potential and which prepares them well to go on to further education, employment or training. For those with special educational needs and disabilities, inclusion is fundamental to them achieving their ambitions and entering adulthood with confidence and security.

To demonstrate an inclusive education culture:

  • We are committed to ensuring all education settings serve the children and young people in their local community and will create a change in our culture that presumes mainstream education at every phase.
  • We will minimise the number of children who do not have a school place and are not being electively home educated (EHE) to make sure that they get the education they need. In doing so we will pay particular attention to reducing the number and duration of any exclusion from school.
  • We will monitor the provision made by all settings that provide statutory SEN provision, intervene when necessary and support the sharing of good practice.
  • We will support the acquisition of specialist skills and expertise within, and across local mainstream settings and communities.
  • We will review SEN provision annually to ensure it is in the right location; of sufficient quality; and that there is a good match between demand and supply.
  • We will ensure that the voice of children and young people with SEND, and their parents, are heard more clearly in education settings and actions are taken accordingly.