Meeting Predictable Needs: School Age
Introduction
As outlined in Camden's Education Strategy for 2030 and Camden's SEND Strategy for 2022–2027, in Camden we are determined to give all our Children and young people the opportunities to thrive, helping them to grow as good citizens, be ambitious for change, and contribute positively to their communities and society.
This document replaces the Expectations of Schools Sections A and B which were published in 2017 and is intended to support schools and settings to reflect and develop their inclusive provision for Meeting Predictable Needs for School Age pupils.
The London Borough of Camden has developed this Toolkit in consultation with a Working Group including SENDCO's, Headteachers, Parents, Outreach Services, Health Service, Sensory Team, Camden Learning and SENDIASS. We are committed to continually gathering feedback from key stakeholders to ensure this resource remains practical, effective, and supportive for meeting predictable needs.
Whilst this Toolkit is primarily aimed at supporting professionals to meet predictable needs in mainstream schools, it is also designed to help parents, carers, and children and young people better understand the support available for those with SEND who do not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or Exceptional Needs Grant (ENG). A parent and carer version of this resource is available, and parents are encouraged to use it to gain insight into how support is planned and delivered in schools. This shared understanding can help strengthen collaboration between families and school staff.
This Toolkit aims to assist schools and settings in reflecting on and enhancing their inclusive practices to benefit all Children and young people, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The guidance provided in this Toolkit is designed to support schools and settings in reflecting on and strengthening inclusive practices for all Children and young people, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It aligns with the Children and Families Act (2014), the Equality Act (2010), and the SEND Code of Practice, reinforcing every child’s right to mainstream education and coordinated support for SEND needs.
The majority of Children and young people with special educational needs will have their needs effectively met from the resources available to mainstream educational settings described as the Camden Local Offer.
In Camden the needs of these Children and young people in educational settings are described as ‘predictable’. Predictable needs are:
- a type and level of needs of Children and young people that settings would ordinarily expect to have on their roll and make provision for
- met by support funded from delegated and devolved funding or otherwise available at no additional cost from within the school’s SEND Offer
It is only those with the most exceptional needs who may require a statutory education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment or an Exceptional Needs Grant. Exceptional needs are less common and exceed standard funding and may involve significant medical support or standalone interventions.
The Toolkit outlines Camden’s expectations for inclusive practice. Section A outlines Camden’s Inclusive Practice Framework which establishes expectations of what high quality, inclusive practice should look like for all Children and young people in all schools and settings. Section B provides Camden’s Targeted Support Framework which outlines enhanced adaptations, provisions and targeted interventions that may be put in place to support Children and young people who may have additional needs, including SEND.
This Toolkit is provided to inform the graduated approach of assess, plan, do and review, helping all educational settings plan and deliver effective SEND support. The key aim is that the ongoing assessment and use of support strategies will enable successful progression for Children and young people to adult life.
For more information about determining when a child needs SEND support, visit the Local Offer dedicate page.
It is expected that all educational settings will refer to the following guidance and use it to put appropriate support into place prior to considering whether to make a request for an EHC needs assessment or an Exceptional Need Grant request. This guidance should be used together with information in the Local Offer.
Main Sections of this Toolkit
Terminology
Find out about the terms we use throughout this toolkit:
to describe all learners from 0-25 years old, including those with SEND, additional needs, from groups with protected characteristics and those from disadvantaged families
is used for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. SEN is also used a variation of SEND in guidance.
to describe all those who have a caring responsibility for a child or young person including foster carers and those with informal care arrangements.