SEN and disability duties: guidance for school governing boards

Last month, the Department for Education released updated guidance for school governing boards regarding pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities.

The guidance is intended to help school governing boards understand their role and responsibilities to children and young people with SEN and disabilities, and also to empower governors and trustees to hold their schools to account.

The guidance stresses the importance of collaboration and oversight to ensure high-quality outcomes for pupils with SEN and disabilities. It suggests that a lead governor, trustee or sub-committee should take the lead in championing the school’s support, as well as ensuring collaboration between the school and the governing board.  

The guidance also flags the importance of regular training to ensure that the board is aware of its duties in relation to SEN and disability and continues to promote the best possible outcomes.

The guidance includes a “SEN and disability checklist” to help guide governing boards to understand and fulfil their responsibilities and to help governors and trustees to help governing boards provide support and challenge when those responsibilities are not met.

You can read the guidance in full here.

For more information, please contact Jill using [email protected] or 0191 211 7933.