Governing Bodies have a responsibility for Special Educational Needs.
Many governing bodies nominate a governor who is responsible for assisting and advising them on meeting their SEN responsibilities.
This is a strategic role, which does not involve the nominated governor attending meetings with individual parents or taking part in discussions concerning individual pupils.
The SEN governor is the link between the school and the governing body concerning pupils with SEN. The governing body must remember that specific information regarding SEN pupils is confidential.
The governing body or nominated SEN governor are not expected to undertake day-to-day activities to ensure that all its duties are met.
In practical terms the SEN governor should try to:
- Understand how the school identifies a pupil with SEN
- Understand how the school delivers SEN provision
- Do their best to ensure that pupils get any help that is available to access the curriculum
- Raise awareness of SEN and make other governors aware of SEN issues at governing body meetings
- Develop good relationships with staff involved with SEN including ther head teacher and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)
- Set up regular meetings with the SENCO and visits to the school to see at first hand how SEN provision is organised and delivered
- Know the schools SEN policy and make sure there is an annual review of it
- Discuss and appraise the SEN policy with the school’s SENCO
- Understand how funding is allocated to schools for SEN
- Attend training for SEN governors
