Roles and responsibilities in mainstream schools

2:7. Provision for pupils with special educational needs is a matter for the school - as a whole.  In addition to the governing body, the school's head teacher, SEN coordinator or team, and all other members of staff have important responsibilities.  In practice the division of responsibility is a matter for individual schools, to be decided in the light of a school's circumstances and size, priorities and ethos.  But schools should bear in mind the following:

? the governing body should, in cooperation with the head teacher, determine the school's general policy and approach to provision for children with special educational needs, establish the appropriate staffing and funding arrangements and maintain a general oversight of the school's work

? the governing body may appoint a committee to take a particular interest in and closely monitor the school's work on behalf of children with special educational needs

? the head teacher has responsibility for the day-to-day management of all aspects of the school's work, including provision for children with special educational needs.  He or she will keep the governing body fully informed.  At the same time, the head teacher will work closely with the school's SEN coordinator or team

? the SEN coordinator or team, working closely with their fellow teachers, has responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school's SEN policy and for coordinating provision for pupils with special educational needs, particularly at stages 2 and 3

? all teaching and non-teaching staff should be involved in the development of the school's SEN policy and be fully aware of the school's procedures for identifying, assessing and making provision for pupils with special educational needs.

2:8. Whatever arrangements are made in a particular school, statutory duties remain with the governing body.

The 'responsible person' means the head teacher or the appropriate governor: that is the chairman of the governing body unless the governing body have designated another governor for the purpose.  In the case of a nursery school, the responsible person is the head teacher.

(Section 161 (2))

2:9. The chairman of the governing body, a member of that body's SEN committee or the head teacher will have the role of 'responsible person' (see Glossary).  The LEA should inform that person when they conclude that a pupil at the school has special educational needs, for example following the making of a statement or when a child with a statement moves from another school.  The responsible person must then ensure that all those who will teach the child know about his or her special educational needs.  The responsible person should also endorse any request made by the school to the LEA for a statutory assessment - see paragraph 2:115 below.