What is a BERA?
A BERA stands for Best Endeavours and Reasonable Adjustments.
The BERA helps the council and schools to work together consistently so that the right support in put into place for children and young people with SEND.
The following information explains the BERA.
Best endeavours
When a school or local authority is supporting a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), they make their best efforts to help that child.
This means doing everything they can to make sure the child gets the support they need.
Reasonable adjustments
Reasonable adjustments are changes that schools or other places may need to make so that children and young people with SEND can be fully included. This could include:
- Changing the way lessons are taught
- Providing extra help or support
- Giving extra time for schoolwork or exams
- Allowing breaks when needed
What do schools do?
- They work closely with the child, their family, and other professionals (like SENDCOs) to find out what support is needed
- They may provide extra support in the classroom or give the child a different way to learn
- They try to remove barriers to learning so every child can enjoy school
Why do we make adjustments?
Adjustments are made to:
- Help children and young people learn and achieve their best
- Make sure all children have the same opportunities to take part in school life, no matter what support they need
- Make sure children feel included and valued
What happens if adjustments are needed?
Schools should make sure adjustments are made quickly and effectively. They should check regularly to see if the support is helping.
If the adjustments are not working, the school will think about other ways to help.
What if more help is needed?
Sometimes, more support is needed than what can be offered by the school. In this case:
- The school may ask for help from the local authority or other services.
- The child or young person may be referred for a special education plan (like an EHCP) if needed.