Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Special Educational Needs (SEN) can be any learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made. Children might have a learning difficulty if they:

  • have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children their age; 
  • have a disability which hinders them from using the schools generally provided for children in the area; 
  • are under school age and fall within either of the definitions above, or 
  • would do so if special provisions were not made for them.

If you think that your child has Special Educational Needs you should contact us or your child's school.

We have a duty to enable pupils with Special Educational Needs to:

  • reach their full potential;
  • be included fully in their school communities,
  • make a successful transition to adulthood.

Some pupils will require additional help from Special Educational Needs services or other agencies. A very small minority of children will have Special Educational Needs which are severe or complex needing special provisions to be arranged.


SEN Statutory Team
Room 201
Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT

01325 388850
senqueries@darlington.gov.uk

Parent Partnership Service

Darlington Borough Council also provides a Parent Partnership Service who will discuss your concerns and offer further information, advice and support. You can contact them on 01325 388618 or parent.partnership@darlington.gov.uk

For further information on support and services available to families of children with special educational needs and disabilities, you can view the Local Offer booklet on the People's Information Point website [external link]