Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Specialist Assessment and Support Service

If the following situations apply and you require an urgent response, please speak to the special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) team on 01274 435750.

• If there is an unexpected breakdown in the usual carer support, for example, the parent or carer has an unplanned hospital admission and there is no extended family able to look after the child. 
• The child has an unexpected hospital admission. 
• There is a sudden change in a medical condition or family circumstance that directly impacts on the ability to attend educational provision.

Information for parents or referrers considering making a request for assessment

If your child is disabled and you want to discuss access to leisure and out-of-school activities then please contact Bradford Families Information Service (FIS). Let them know that you child is disabled and a member of staff from FIS will offer to meet with you.

If you want information or advice about wider health services (other than continuing health care) please speak with your general practitioner (GP) and/or school nurse in the first instance. You could also speak to your paediatrician if you have one.

If you are concerned that a child is being harmed or abused you should contact Children’s Initial Contact Point on 01274 437500 (Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5pm or Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm). Outside of these times, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01274 431010.

If you are concerned that an adult may be being harmed or abused you should contact Adult Services Access Point on 01274 435400. (Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5pm or Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm). Outside of these times, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01274 431010.

If you are a social worker for a looked after child and are considering making a request for an assessment, please discuss this with the headteacher for the Virtual School before making the request.

If your child attends a school or setting then you should speak to the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) before requesting an assessment.

The special educational needs and disability (SEND) specialist assessment and support service

This service covers specialist assessment and support when it appears that a child may require individual special educational, social care and/or continuing health care provision. This happens if their needs cannot be met by mainstream services even with additional support from within those services.

This service includes the following teams:

• Special educational needs (SEN) assessment 
• Children with Complex Health or Disabilities Team (Social Care) 
• Children's continuing health care 
• Specialist Personal Advisors for education, employment and training

There are also close links with the Council's Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service.

We complete assessments for:

• Single education, health and care plans (EHCPs) which used to be known as statements or learning disability assessments. 
• Children's social care needs arising from complex health and/or disabilities 
• Continuing health care

If you would like impartial information and advice in considering a request for an assessment you can contact the Parent Partnership Service

Requests for assessments need to be made jointly between a family and the school or childcare setting or other support services (for example, an organisation which provides advocacy or advice).

We also expect that families and services will have tried to provide support through early support and/or common assessment. We need these plans to be included with the request for assessment in all requests.

When making a decision about whether or not an assessment is required we will look at the evidence and the SEND Guidance.
If you would still like to discuss a potential request for assessment please ring: 01274 435750 (SEND Services).

All new requests are considered by a social worker and special educational needs officer within 24 hours.

If your child does not need a specialist assessment then we will confirm this to you in writing and advise you of other sources of support.

Agreed assessments are discussed at a weekly joint assessment panel. This panel will agree who will lead the assessment. The lead will meet with the family to take forward the assessment.

We will involve Adult and Community Services in assessments for single education, health and care plans for young people if this is needed. If you want to discuss the social care needs only of an adult aged over 18, then you should contact the Adult Services Access Point on 01274 435400.

Professional/agency

If you are a professional/agency and you still wish to make a request for assessment please complete the SEND joint referral form (Word document).

Parents

If you are a parent and you wish to make a request for assessment, please speak with your paediatrician and/or your school special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) in the first instance. Ideally you can work together to make your request. If you still wish to make your request you can do so by completing the Request to carry out an Education, Health and Care Assessment form (Word document).

Young people

If you are a young person and you wish to make a request, please speak with your school, college and/or supportive person in the first instance. Ideally you can work together to make your request.
If you still wish to make your request you can do so by completing the Request to carry out an Education, Health and Care Assessment form (Word document).

If you wish to refer for an assessment for Education, Health & Care Plan for young person leaving school aged 16-24 then please contact 01274 435750 and ask to speak to one of the Specialist Personal Advisers.

Useful Contacts

Barnardo's

01274 481183

The Family Fund

For grants for severely disabled children
Write to: The Family Fund, PO Box 50, York YO1 2ZX

Disability Advice Bureau

General benefits advice for disabled people. Telephone: 01274 594173

Recreation - Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities

Telephone: 01274 437093

Special Needs Database

If your child’s name is registered on the Database, you will receive information about services including Summer Play Schemes

For further information, please get in touch.

Families Information Service

Telephone: 01274 437093
Or visit www.bradford.gov.uk/fis

Bradford District's Local Offer

Bradford's Local Offer website puts information on services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) all in one place to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.