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CAMHS Neurodiversity: School and Education

Education

The local offer explains the support and services that are available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25 years in Plymouth.

Children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Plymouth will receive better care and support as a result of a new partnership plan to drive innovation and improvements.

For independent support and advice please contact:

 

Educational Health and Care Plans

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a document that supports children and young people with special educational needs in education. Most mainstream schools, settings, and colleges will be able to meet your child’s special educational needs. However, if your child needs more support than the school can provide, they may need an EHCP.

Further information is available at Plymouth City Council at PIAS and at:

 

**A diagnosis is not required to secure an EHCP. It is about a child or young person’s identified needs and whether these can only be met with an EHCP. Some children and young people with an EHC plan will have a diagnosis and some won’t.

Attendance

If your Child / Young Person is having difficulties with attending school Plymouth City Council Inclusion, Attendance and Welfare Service work closely with schools, children and families to encourage and support good attendance at school. They also offer support in matters of safeguarding and child welfare.

The Department of Education has two guidance papers (Feb 2023) for schools where mental health is affecting attendance. (1) Summary of responsibilities and (2) Examples of effective practice.

Plymouth City Council offer information and advice on strategies such as reduced timetables.

Exclusions

Children and Young People with Neurodevelopmental conditions are more likely to be excluded from schools. More information is available below.

 

Equalities Act

When a person has a long-term condition that adversely affects their ability to carry out normal day to day activities (for example, attending school), this is likely to mean they have a disability and are afforded the protection of the Equalities Act.

The Equalities Act (2010) makes it unlawful for an education provider such as a school or college to discriminate, harass or victimise a pupil or potential pupil. It covers Children and Young People in relation to admissions and in the way it provides education to pupils.

Further information is available at www.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

Any blanket application of a policy to a person with a disability without consideration of adaptations and adjustments that could be made could mean the education provider is discriminating.

Information on reasonable adjustments for children with neurodevelopmental conditions under the Equalities Act (2010) can be found below.

 

Alternative Education

Alternative Complementary Education (ACE) refers to alternative educational provision that is complementary to mainstream schooling. It caters to children who are unable to attend mainstream education full-time due to reasons like illness, exclusion, school refusal, teenage pregnancy etc. ACE works as a flexible, tailored form of education to meet specific student needs and circumstances outside mainstream schooling. Further Information is available at Plymouth City Council.