Young People Support

Special Educational Needs and Disability Support

What Changes were made in 2014?

In September 2014 the government changed the law and made changes to the way disabled children and young people, and those with special educational needs (SEN), get the support they need.

Since then, the new law means that professionals from different services now have to work more closely together to give children and young people* with special educational needs or a disability the support they need. Children and young people now have more say over what support and services are offered in their local area, and more help will is available for young people as they prepare for adulthood.

* A child is a person under compulsory school age. A young person is a person over compulsory school age but under 25. A person is no longer of compulsory school age after the last day of summer term during the year in which they become 16.

Some of the biggest changes children and young people with a special educational need or a disability have seen include:

• a bigger focus on your aspirations for the future and the support you will need to achieve your goals
• statements of special educational needs and Learning Difficulty Assessments have been replaced by Education, Health and Care plans
• your local authority consulting children and young people about the services it should be offering
• you are now more involved in making decisions about how you are supported
• and you have more information, advice and support to understand your options as you move into adulthood.