Who’s Who in SEN

Building blocksCasework Officers
work in the SEN team at the Local Authority dealing with the statementing process.

Classroom assistants/Teaching assistants
support and assist class teachers, may give extra help to children with special needs.

Connexions Personal Advisers
help young people aged 13 to 19 to make choices about further education and training. The Connexions Service closes at the end of April 2012 and the support for young people with SEN previously provided by Connexions in Nottinghamshire will be delivered through the Targeted Support Service in the County by Targeted Support Case Managers.

District Assessment and Placement Officers work in the SEND team within the  Children, Families and Cultural Servcices (for the County authority) and manage the assessment and statementing process.

Educational Psychologists
advise parents, schools and the local authority on children's special educational needs and play a key role in the statementing process.

Education Welfare Officers
work with schools, children and parents on attendance problems or support attendance.

Nottinghamshire Parents Partnership Service
give impartial advice, information and support about education issues to parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities living in the area

Learning Support Assistants/Individual Needs Assistants
Alternative terms for teaching asssistants. Give extra help to children with special needs, individually or in groups.

Learning Support Teachers/Individual Needs Teachers
Provide specialist training and support to schools so that they can meet the needs of pupils with special needs and disabilities.  Provide targeted support to pupils with the highest level needs.

Local authority
City or Couty council responsible for children's services including education.

Named Officer
the officer in the SEN team at the Children and Young People's Trust who will deal with your child's case, usually your casework officer.

Peripatetic or Outreach or Visiting Teachers
travel from school to school to advise teachers or to work with children with specific conditions, such as visual and hearing impairments or autistic spectrum disorders. They work with children, teachers and parents to help each child develop to the best of his or her ability.

Portage Home Visitors
support parents with a self help home teaching programme for children under five with special needs and their families. Visit parents at home and support children in pre-school settings.

Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO)
The member of staff in a mainstream school or early education setting responsible for co-ordinating provision for pupils with special educational needs within the school.

Nottinghamshire Schools and Families Specialist Services T

his service supports children from birth up to age 19 with complex special educational needs. The Service comprises four specialist teams:

  • Early Years and Key Stage One Team, with teachers and teaching assistants who specialise in the full range of special educational needs and disabilities, including autism, sensory and physical and complex learning needs
  • Key Stage 2-5 Autism Team
  • Key Stage 2-5 Sensory Team
  • Key Stage 2-5 Cognition and Learning Team

The teams provide support in homes, early years settings, schools  and other settings. This can include direct teaching; providing information, advice and training to parents and staff working with the children and young people in settings and schools,supporting transitions and liaising with other agencies. Parents can self refer to the Early Years Team or a professional can submit a referral form. Decisions about support are made by a panel which meets weekly . Support for children and young people in school is usually made at termly Family Springboard meetings, although schools can also refer directly if there is a significant change in a child's or young person's needs or circumstances.

Nottingham City Inclusion Education Service
The Inclusive Education Service comprises three teams:

  • Autism Team;
  • Learning Support Team;
  • Sensory and Physical Team.

These teams work with children and young people between 0-19 years who have additional needs. They provide support in the home, in early years settings, in mainstream schools, in special schools and in some settings for young people aged over 16 years, so that all children and young people:

  • Can learn and achieve success
  • Have the right to be included in their local community
  • Have the right to an inclusive educational placement – wherever that may be

For further information contact the Service Manager on 0115 8765311 or visit the Nottingham City website - Inclusive Education Service