What is SENAR?

The Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review Service (SENAR) fulfils Birmingham City Council’s legal duties to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) between the ages of 0-25. Working in partnership with its education, health and social care partners, SENAR:

  • Conducts education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments ensuring the participation of children, young people and their families throughout this process.
  • If a child or young person has an EHC Plan, maintains their EHC Plans by ensuring they receive the support and educational placement they require.
  • Reviews all EHC Plans at least annually to ensure children and young people continue to receive the right support for their identified needs.
  • Supports children and young people’s development to help them achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes, preparing them effectively for adulthood

Who are SENAR?

The SENAR service is split across 4 key areas:

Assessment – this team is responsible for the activity in relation to an education health care needs assessment

Reviews – this team is responsible for the annual reviews of education health care plans

Resolution – this team is responsible for the complaints, mediation requests and tribunal/appeal hearings in relation to education health care plans and the education health care needs assessment process

Quality & Improvement – this team is responsible for the monitoring on the quality of statutory functions completed by the service teams and support the overall SEND improvement journey with a focus on the statutory functions within SENAR

SENAR Structure Documents