Skip to content
  1. Do it online
  2. Login
  3. Have your say
  4. My Durham

We will be carrying out essential maintenance on our website on Tuesday 23 April 2024 between the hours of 8.00am and 10.30am. During this time, the website may experience technical issues. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

SEND, Looked After and Vulnerable Group Casework team


Our SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), Looked After and Vulnerable Group Casework team provide a service for children and young people (aged 0 to 25) with SEND who are undergoing an Education Health and Care (EHC) Assessment, have an EHC Plan or need support from services through The Local Offer.

Responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring that both children and young people's views and their parent/carers are central to any decision making about SEND support arrangements.
  • Acting as a main point of contact for parent/carers of children and young people with SEND.
  • Contacting a range of professionals from education, health and social care as part of the assessment process.
  • Working with children and young people, parents and carers and other professionals on the agreed content of an EHC Plan.
  • Representing the council at Disagreement Resolution, Mediation and Tribunal.
  • Considering requests for specialist equipment and personal budgets for children and young people with SEND.
  • Arranging a school place for children and young people with an EHC Plan or an Enhanced Mainstream Provision for children and young people with a SEN Support Plan or EHC plan.
  • Arranging additional support for nursery aged children with SEND.
  • Planning to ensure there are enough post-16 learning opportunities for young people and working with partners to commission these.
  • Taking responsibility for commissioning high needs places in post-16 provision for young people with special educational needs.
  • Ensuring that providers comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Referrals

Anyone can request support for a child or young person with SEND, however requests are usually made by:

  • parents and carers
  • young people over the age of 16 can request an EHC assessment
  • early years providers, schools and colleges

If you have a concern about your child or young person's special educational needs, we would advise you to discuss this with staff at their educational setting first.

 

Contact us
Contact SEND, Looked After and Vulnerable Groups Casework Team
03000 265 878
Our address is:
  • Children and Young People's Services
  • County Hall
  • Durham
  • County Durham
  • United Kingdom
  • DH1 5UJ