Special Educational Needs

Identification and Assessment

Special Schools and Specialist Centres

Specialist Provision

Sensory Impairment

Educational Psychology

 

Identification and Assessment

Some children, during the whole or part of their school career, may require a special element in their schooling to enable them to overcome some educational difficulty. 

The main problems arise from sight and hearing impairments, communication difficulties, physical disabilities and varying degrees of difficulty in learning.

The need will, more often than not, have been discovered before the child starts school.  After consultation with the parents and after careful consideration by  educational psychologists and others, the child may be offered a place in an ordinary class in the local school, in a pre school specialist centre, a primary specialist centre or in a special school. Parents are always involved in discussion about the most suitable provision for their child.

When it is necessary, the assessment of the degree of need is the responsibility of the Special Educational Needs Service, which works in close co-operation with other agencies, especially the School Health Service, and assesses the degree of need through the Statutory Assessment process.  A Statement in accordance with the SEN Code of Practice for Wales will be provided by the Authority when appropriate.  

 

Special Schools and Specialist Centres

Within Powys there are currently three special schools maintained by the Education Authority:-

Cedewain School, Newtown and Penmaes School, Brecon
These are both co-educational special schools, which serve North and South Powys respectively, providing for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties and severe communication difficulties.

Brynllywarch School, Nr. Newtown
Brynllywarch School is a co-educational special residential school which caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and some with mild emotional and behavioural difficulties in both the primary and secondary sector.

 

Specialist Provision

In addition there are specialist centres which make special provision at certain primary schools in Ystradgynlais, Brecon, Crickhowell, Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells, Llanidloes, Knighton, Welshpool, Machynlleth and Newtown.  There are pre-school specialist centres at Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown and Ystradgynlais.

Brecon High School, Llandrindod High School and Llanidloes High School host specialist Aspergers Units which offer specialist provision for pupils with a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome.

Where appropriate the Authority makes use of special schools maintained by other authorities, non-maintained special schools and independent schools.  Each child is considered on an individual basis and parents are fully consulted.

Generally it is the policy of the Authority to provide special education as near to the child's home as possible and, in appropriate cases, to make provision in mainstream schools but the needs of each child are considered on an individual basis.

 

Sensory Impairment

The aim of the Authority is to provide for the sensory impaired child in his/her own local community wherever possible.  Pupils with hearing or visual impairment are usually supported in mainstream schools by a number of specialist teachers and a range of support staff, whilst in appropriate cases provision is made for attendance at residential schools.

 

 

SEN Policy:

LA SEN Policy Statement

Code of Practice:

For the 'Special Educational Needs Code of Practice for Wales 2002', which replaced the 'Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs': 

Click Here (English)

Click Here (Welsh)

 

Referrals :

If your child has been referred to an Educational Psychologist the service provides some leaflets for you and your child to read. Click on the links below to download the leaflets.

Information for Parents and Carers

Information for Young People

If you have any concerns or questions, please ask.
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