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.

Working Together

We’re improving whole system working and the coordination and timeliness of services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

We want children and young people with SEN and disabilities to be able to access support that responds to their holistic needs rather than having to battle with several services that address their issues partially and often in a disjointed way. We don’t want children and their families to experience a system that is unable to communicate and cooperate.

To demonstrate effective joint working at all levels:

  • We will be committed to Early Help and the identification of needs at the earliest possible point through a partnership of families and professionals working together to access appropriate services in their local communities
  • We will maximise the skills of our workforce and ensure they have a clear understanding of the education, health and social care resources that are available in local communities to meet differing levels of SEN and disabilities
  • We will work better as a whole system to ensure knowledge and information is shared and coordination is improved so that children, young people and their families receive integrated support
  • We will achieve an efficient and coordinated Education, Health and Care assessment process, which enables EHCPs to be issued within the 20 week statutory timescales This includes completing the transfer of Statements to EHCPs by the required deadline
  • We will be clear about our joint commissioning intentions and arrangements.