Special Education Needs - information for practitioners
The Special Educational Needs (SEN) section
The SEN section is responsible for ensuring the local authority (LA) meets its statutory duties in relation to the completion of the statutory assessment of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the maintenance and monitoring of finalised statements of SEN. The SEN section is also responsible for:
- policy and procedures regarding SEN Transport
- devolution of resources to schools for pupils who have been identified for SEN at School Action and School Action Plus and/or with statements of SEN
- policy and procedure in relation to the processing of requests for the LA to initiate statutory assessments.
See key documents relating to the SEN service.
The LA also provides a partnership service for parents who need information and advice about the statutory assessment process and those who may be in disagreement with the LA.
The section consists of four SEN teams who have discrete as well as overlapping functions and have been organised to allow officers to have specific functions and responsibility therefore developing a sense of accountability for their work as well as to enable the LA to perform all of its statutory duties regarding:
- completing statutory assessments within the timescale stated by the DCSF
- attending annual reviews
- organising transitional planning meetings
- the Management of SEN budgets
- providing advice on SEN policies and procedures
- providing or participating in training on various aspects of SEN Representing the LA at Special Educational Needs Tribunal Appeals.
SEN teams
The SEN section includes the following teams which have discrete as well as overlapping functions.
The following SEN teams are managed by Michael Donkor, Head of SEN who can be contacted on 020 7926 9450.
Strategic and Administrative Support Team
The Strategic and Administrative Support Team makes strategic decisions on SEN programmes and provides administrative support for the other Lambeth SEN teams.
The key contacts in the team are:
- Pat Johnson
Principal Officer and Clerk to the SEN Panel
Tel: 020 7926 9473
- Kodjo Ayebi Kwakye
Special Educational Needs Disability Tribunal (SENDIST)
Co-ordinator
Also, Conciliation Officer
Tel: 020 7926 9284
- Joy Lacey
Administrative Support Assistant
Tel: 020 7926 9460
- Serena Nelson
Administrative Assistant
Tel: 020 79269574
Assessment and Placement Team
The SEN Panel, the LA’s decision making body decides on SEN issues and allocates resources. The team request and collates information required for the statutory assessment of pupils with SEN to ensure the LEA completes statutory assessments on time and that draft statements are issued within 18 weeks.
This team should be contacted about:
- information on the Statutory Assessment process
- whether or not a child is being assessed
- how a case is progressing
- the outcome of the SEN Panel
- SEN Panel decisions in relation to statutory assessment and proposed statements
The key contacts in the team are:
- Michael Doncor
Head of SEN
020 7926 9450
- Adam Yarnold
Acting SEN Manager
Tel: 020 7926 9579 or 020 7926 9585/
- Maureen Etienne-Joseph
SEN Caseworker
Tel: 020 7926 9235
The Statement Management Team
This team makes arrangements for primary and secondary phase transfer. Their primary function is to ensure that the 1500 files that are maintained by the LA undergo regular husbandry to ensure that the pupil information is accurate and the sections manual and computer database are regularly updated.
The team also manages the transfer of pupils who have statement at 5+, 11+, or 16+ and the amendments to statements of SEN as appropriate.
This team should be contacted about:
- whether a signed Statement is being maintained for an individual pupil
- details of provision in the final statement
- any change in the circumstances or details regarding a child with a Statement of Special Educational Needs
- information about 11+ transfers
The key contacts in the team are:
- Marcia Bryan - Principal Statement Management and Monitoring Officer 020 7926 9578
- Linus Okere - Statement Management Officer 020 7926 9577
- Spurgeon Clarke - Statement Management Officer 020 7926 9570
Statement Monitoring Team
This team is responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of statements. It provides LA representation at annual and transitional review meetings for pupils with statement of SEN.
The team provides a key role in monitoring the appropriate use of the LA’s resources by schools as well as give advice on annual and transitional review arrangements.
The team is also responsible for arranging the formal ceasing of statements where these lapse as pupils leave school and co-ordinates application to the Learning Skills Council for Specialist College placement.
Please contact the team if you require information related to:
- attendance at Annual Reviews
- the outcome of Annual Reviews
- the use of resources
- transitional planning
- information on arrangements at 14 + and 16 + transitions.
The key contacts in the team are:
- Colin Hastie - Statement Monitoring Officer 020 7926 9575
- Ruth McGinity – Statement Monitoring Officer 020 7926 9584
- Sara Wannop - Statement Monitoring Officer 020 7926 9254
Parent Partnership
- Chris White – Parent Partnership Officer 0207 926 9805
Key documents