Local Offer - Finding and Choosing a Setting

When it comes to choosing a setting for your child, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This page looks at things you might want to consider when choosing a setting, and details of local and neighbouring education settings.

Types of Settings

• Mainstream and Independent Schools
• Alternative Provision and Pupil Referral Units
• Specialist Provision
• Further Education

Choosing a Setting

You may be unsure how to choose the right setting for your child but it's important to remember that all settings have a duty to provide support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Whilst different settings may have different resources available to them, whichever setting you choose should outline a plan showing how they will support your child and their identified needs. The setting may be able to apply for extra funding to pay for specialist resources or extra support to help your child reach their expected targets.

When choosing a school for your child, it's a good idea to first look at your catchment area school and the other schools in your local area. You can find details of these on the mainstream schools button above.

All schools have a duty to publish an annual SEN Information Report on their website. This report tells you what you can expect from the school regarding the support they offer children with SEND. Schools also publish a SEND Policy which explains how they support children with SEND - you can normally access this on the school's website, but if you can't find it then you can contact the school to request a copy. The school's website can also give you a better understanding of what they offer overall.

You may wish to contact the school directly to arrange a visit and speak with their SENCO about your child's needs. It's a good idea to have a list of questions ready for when you visit, such as:

• How will you monitor my child's needs?
• What support might my child receive?
• How often will my child's support be reviewed and how will you involve me?

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and you're considering a specialist setting then it's important to look at what type of SEND the setting specialises in. 

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