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SEND guidance

Guidance affecting SEND provision across the UK

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At the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, temporary legislative changes and/or guidance was introduced within the UK countries to allow some flexibility in the process and delivery of education, health and care plans/SEN statements/additional support plans. Broadly speaking, this allowed health and education providers to use "reasonable endeavours’ duty to comply as far as possible with the original duty of SEN provision to individual children.

These legislative modifications ended on 31 July 2020. Since then, guidance has been issued to support schools as they have re-opened across the UK.  Physiotherapy services must now meet the legal requirements for provision within the pre-pandemic frameworks.

This is the case for all children and young people with EHC plans- including those who are not attending their education setting because they are following public health advice. Multi-agency professionals, including physiotherapists, should collaborate to agree how to meet their duties to deliver the provision set out in the EHC plan. This may include face-to-face visits to the home, or virtual support by means of video or telephone calls, or via email.

Below are links to country-specific educational guidance. They should be considered in conjunction with the relevant infection, prevention and control guidance for your country. PPE recommendations for healthcare staff apply to all healthcare professionals, working in all contexts (including education settings) across the UK. The CSP acknowledges there may be apparent discrepancies surrounding the PPE required by healthcare professionals and education staff. See our PPE FAQs for further advice.

It is important you are aware of the effect this may have on the requirements of your service under SEN law within your country.  If further national guidance is not issued in relation to this area, the CSP encourages you to engage with your local Education teams to determine the appropriate action.

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

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