Secondary education information for parents Special Educational Needs

The majority of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities will have their needs met by local mainstream early years providers, schools or colleges. Some children and young people, however, may require an EHC needs assessment in order for the local authority (LA) to decide whether it is necessary for it to make provision in accordance with an EHC plan.

The School Admissions Code of Practice requires children and young people with SEN to be treated fairly.

Admissions authorities:

  • Must consider applications from parents of children who have SEN but do not have an EHC plan on the basis of the school’s published admissions criteria as part of normal admissions procedures.
  • Must not refuse to admit a child who has SEN but does not have an EHC plan because they do not feel able to cater for those needs
  • Must not refuse to admit a child on the grounds that they do not have an EHC plan

Details of the provision available in each school can be found in their school’s information report. Links to local early years providers, schools and colleges can be accessed via the SENDLO Wirral website.

Children and young people with SEN have different needs and can be educated effectively in a range of mainstream or special settings. Alongside the general presumption of mainstream education, parents of children with an EHC plan and young people with such a plan have the right to seek a place at a special school, special post-16 institution or specialist college.

If you think that your child may have special educational needs, you can speak to your child’s early years provider, school or college. There is usually a teacher responsible for coordinating SEN provision (the SEN Co-ordinator or SENCO). Further details about EHC plans can be found on the SENDLO Wirral website.

In a small number of cases, we will agree to a child who has an EHC plan receiving home tuition. This is normally following a medical recommendation. This service is only considered as a final option and only if a child cannot physically get to school. We believe that, wherever possible, a child should be educated in a school environment.

Transport to special schools and classes

Consideration for transport support is provided to children and young people who are resident on Wirral who have complex special educational needs, a disability or mobility problem as identified through the Special Educational Needs (SEN) assessment process (SEND).

Not all children with a statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP require free transport provision. Where a young person is able to access and use the public transport network safely they will be expected to do so. Where they are unable to walk because of their SEN, a disability or mobility problem they are entitled to free transport.

Eligibility for transport is subject to an initial application which will be assessed in accordance with the councils home to school transport policy.

Following the assessment process parents will be notified of the decision regarding transport provision. Eligibility to provision will be assessed annually. The decision to provide transport is based on the student’s needs. This means that Wirral Council is not able to take the following into account when considering home to school transport entitlement:

  • Parents’ work or other commitments
  • Attendance by siblings at other schools
  • If a parent chooses to send their child to a provider that is not the nearest appropriate provider to the home address
  • A journey from one educational establishment to another
  • Ad hoc visits to other schools, colleges or other establishments
  • Out of hours clubs (breakfast club, after school activities)
  • To/from dental, clinical, medical or hospital appointments
  • At a different time due to detention or exclusion

In these instances, transport arrangements will be the sole responsibility of the student’s parent or carer. Parents sometimes raise issues regarding accompaniment as part of an appeal and these will then be considered on an individual basis.

If young people are assessed as eligible for free transport the type of transport provided will be based on individual assessment of young people’s needs and with regard to the best use of the council’s resources. This may be in the form of a free pass for use on public transport or transport in a contracted vehicle.

For students travelling in contracted vehicles there is no specific duty on the council to provide passenger assistants. However, a passenger assistant may be provided to accompany a young person with significant needs arising from a medical condition or a disability and where there is an exceptional need for care or supervision.

The decision on whether to provide a passenger assistant will be made as part of the eligibility assessment taking a number of factors into account. Such factors may include information relating, but not limited, to:

  • Medical issues
  • Health and safety related issues, including risk to self or others
  • The young person’s mobility
  • Any challenging behaviour arising from the young person’s SEN
  • Where a passenger has severe learning or physical difficulties, the need for continual care and supervision
  • Age and capability
  • Length of journey
  • The vehicle type and size

Transport is allocated on an annual basis and parents and carers will be involved in a discussion regarding the ongoing suitability of the existing transport arrangements during the review of the young person’s statement of educational needs or EHCP.

In cases of students with high risk medical needs (who require additional funding from a number of organisations) decisions regarding transport will be informed by health, education and social care practitioners. If a child is eligible for transport, health professionals will provide recommendations based on the child’s specific needs during transport to ensure safety. This will be reviewed appropriately in order to provide a responsive service.

Special Education Support Services (SESS)

This service is made up of teams of the following:

  • Educational psychologists
  • Medical/physical needs team
  • Social and communication and interaction difficulties team
  • Sensory Inclusion Service
  • Portage and Early Years Intervention Team

The service offers assessment, advice and support for pupils who have or may have special educational needs to enable schools to maintain placement of a child who has SEN but does not have an EHC plan.

Members of the service offer advice about a pupil’s educational needs to headteachers, class teachers, parents and other professional colleagues who may be involved.

You can get further information from the heads of the above teams by contacting:
Phone: 0151 666 4377
Email: sess@wirral.gov.uk

Wirral SEND Partnership

The SEND Partnership Service is delivered by WIRED, a charitable organisation which is independent of the local authority and which gives neutral independent advice and support to parents whose children have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The service is flexible and aims to work in a flexible manner, parents can self refer.

They may be able to help you if:

  • You think your child needs extra help at school
  • Your child is at risk of exclusion due to his/her behaviour
  • She/he has a Statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP
  • You would like your child’s needs to be formally assessed
  • You are attending a school meeting
  • You need help with understanding or completing paperwork

You can get further information from:
Wirral SEND Partnership

Special schools and resourced provision

Moderate learning difficulties

Complex learning difficulties

Social, emotional and mental health

Physical and mental health

  • Wirral Hospitals School, Joseph Paxton Campus
    (By Referral Only)
    Phone: 0151 488 7680
    Email: schooloffice@wirralhs.co.uk
    Age Range: 11 to 16

Autism Spectrum Disorder

For further details and information about places available at the above schools contact the SEN Team.