Data collection by type of SEN
Overview
The guidance and descriptions aim to provide support to schools and
LEAs in recording pupils' needs in the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census
(PLASC).
A copy of this document is available as a download or can be ordered from our Publication Centre, tel: 0845 60 222 60, e-mail: dcsf@prolog.uk.com or can be ordered on-line at the publications page.
For further information please e-mail: nicola.palumbo@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Collecting information about types of Special Educational Need
Since January 2004 we have collected information about the numbers of pupils in the country with different types of special educational need (SEN) as part of PLASC. The data is used to help with planning, to study trends and to monitor the outcomes of initiatives and interventions for pupils with different types of SEN.
The guidance provided in June 2003 and September 2003 has been amended in the light of two years experience of collection and all the queries and comments we have received.
The descriptions set out below should help schools and LAs prepare for and record the data accurately.
These are:
A. Cognition and Learning Needs
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Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD)
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Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD)
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Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD)
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Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD)
B. Behaviour, Emotional and Social Development Needs
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Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulty (BESD)
C. Communication and Interaction Needs
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Speech, language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
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Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
D. Sensory and/or Physical Needs
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Visual Impairment (VI)
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Hearing Impairment (HI)
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Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
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Physical Disability (PD)
Other (OTH)
This category must not be used when the pupil has a statement. If, after looking at Part 2 of the pupil's statement, you are unclear as how to record the pupil's needs please contact the LA who makes and maintains the statement for advice.
This category should only be used for pupils at School Action Plus where it is not possible to identify the type of special educational need. With ongoing advice from the school's educational psychologist and other visiting specialist teachers, it is expected that schools should rarely have to use this category.
Who to record
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N — no special educational need - All pupils without SEN must be recorded as N — no special educational need.
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SEN — Pupils at School Action should be recorded as having SEN but do not record their type of need.
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Type of SEN — You should only record the type/s of need for pupils where special educational provision is being made at School Action Plus or through a Statement of SEN.
This means that the pupils receive educational provision which is additional to or different from the educational provision made generally for children of their age and advice has been sought from external services (see SEN Code of Practice, Chapters 5 and 6).
Please remember that:
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Under-attainment may be an indicator of SEN but poor performance may be due to other factors such as problems in the child's home or family circumstances or poor school attendance (see SEN Code of Practice, 7.38-7.45).
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The law says that pupils do not have learning difficulties just because their first language is not English. Of course some of these pupils may have learning difficulties as well.
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A pupil with a medical diagnosis or disability does not have a special educational need, unless special educational provision is needed to access the curriculum.
Therefore do not record pupils where English is not their first language or those who have a medical diagnosis or disability unless they also have an identified special educational need. Remember that the special educational need should be recorded as the primary or only need.
How to decide
We are aware that many pupils have more than one type of difficulty that are frequently, but not always, inter-related. Therefore you should record information on pupils' greatest or primary need and, where appropriate, their secondary need.
When the pupil has a statement, their needs will have been formally assessed and will be described in Part 2 of the statement. The type or types of need recorded should reflect Part 2. For pupils with statements the category Other (OTH) must not be used. If you are unclear as how to record the pupil's needs please contact the LA who makes and maintains the statement for advice.
Some children whose needs are being met at School Action Plus will also have had assessments by educational psychologists, specialist teachers and others. This information will help you to decide which SEN to record.
The short descriptions that follow are intended to help you to decide which types of SEN are the most appropriate to record. If they are not sufficient to help you to decide, we would recommend that you talk to your school's educational psychologist or specialist support teacher.
