The SEND Code of Practice 2015 says:
Schools should ensure that the information is easily accessible by young people and parents and is set out in clear, straightforward language. (SEND Code 6.81)
Points and features to consider
- How do you know if your report is easy to find on your website? Have you asked parents or young people to check this?
- Information Reports tend to be quite long, often 15 – 20 pages, so breaking up information is key. Use a contents list and create a hyperlink for each section heading in your contents. One click on the section heading will take the reader instantly to that section they are seeking. Share IT expertise in your academy chain or through the LA if you are not sure how to do this.
- You could invite a working group of parents to explore and agree how to set your report out in clear, straightforward language.
Have some examples prepared to share, like presenting information as questions – see below.
Consider: why do parents need to know the information in 6.79 of the Code? What might they ask you to find this out?
What does the SEND Code say your report must include |
Short question format in plain English |
| Eg ‘policies for identifying children and young people with SEN and assessing their needs, including the name and contact details of the SENCo’ | What should I do if I think my child may have a special educational need?
Who is the SENCo and how can I contact them?
How do you know if my child needs extra help? |
| ‘arrangements for consulting young people with SEN and involving them in their education.’ | How will my child be able to share their views and explain what kind of support works best for them? |
You could organise your information in a question/answer format which could be presented in a clearly divided table – see below.
question/answer format
| What should I do if I think my child may have a special educational need? | Firstly, talk to your child’s class teacher to discuss your concerns. At Sunshine School we have an open-door policy and staff are available most mornings and at the end of the school day. |
| Who is the SENCo and how can I contact them? | If you need more support or advice, you can contact the SENCo, Mrs Bright Star, via the school office to arrange a time which suits you both, to talk about your concerns. |
Your ‘contents’ could be a series of questions, each question a hyperlink, taking the parent directly to the answer.
- Or, you could do a voice or video recording for each question and answer.
- Think about font, font size and spacing to break up information and increase clarity and engagement. If a parent asks for a hard copy (as they are entitled to do), they may benefit from it being printed on coloured paper.
- As far as possible, it needs to be accessible for your pupils. How will you know if it is? Consider input from the SEND Young Person’s Network. Consider using colour, images, flow diagrams, mind-maps and/or photos eg a photo of the safe place a pupil can go to, to calm down.
- Consider filming aspects of your practice and support to demonstrate examples of how support might be provided. Always remember to make sure that you have written permission from any pupils who feature in them.
- Feedback from your parents or pupils in the form of diagrams, charts, graphs (remember to keep them simple) can help make your Information Report easier and more interesting to read.
Your SEN Information Report needs to tell the story of your everyday practice and provision, to increase parent and pupil understanding and participation, as per section 19 of the Children and Families Act 2014. It is an opportunity to celebrate with your students, parents, and Ofsted the quality of your provision for pupils with SEN and share details of your pupils’ achievements.
Including points taken from SECEd: Getting your SEN Information Report right (sec-ed.co.uk)
