In each part of the UK there are different systems in place to support children with special educational needs.
This page covers special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support in England.
How can my child get SEND support?
In England, SEND support is available to all children and young people, aged 0–25, assessed to need extra help because of a learning difficulty or disability, as long as they are in education or training.
There are three ways to get SEND support:
1. In educational settings:
- Early years – including nurseries and preschools
- In school, aged 5–15
- In education or training, aged 16 or over
2. Through support in your local area, including The Local Offer – from your local authority
3. Through an Education, Health and Care Plan
These are covered in detail below.
Assessment of Behaviour and Learning in Epilepsy (ABLE) tool
It’s vital to identify the special educational needs of children with epilepsy as early as possible.
For this reason, Young Epilepsy has developed the Assessment of Behaviour and Learning in Epilepsy (ABLE) tool.
The ABLE tool can help parents, carers and teachers to make the right decisions for:
- special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) level support in school
- Education, Health and Care assessments that may lead to an EHCP
In some cases, children with additional educational needs may also qualify for extra support during exams.
In education or training, aged 16 or over
Under the SEND system, your child becomes a young person on the last Friday in June after they turn 16.
They can leave school at the end of the school year they turn 16. But, legally, all young people must be in education or training until 18.
Your child’s education and training options once they turn 16 are:
The Local Offer
Every local authority must have a Local Offer for children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND. It must set out on its website its Local Offer, which should include:
- Education, health and social care services in the local area for children, young people and families who have SEND or disabilities
- Information about services provided outside the local area that local people are likely to use
Types of support can include short breaks, helping young people to live independently, and support to find work and accommodation.
Education, Health and Care Plan
If your child needs more help than their educational setting can offer, they may be able to get more help from your local authority.
You or your child’s school can ask your local authority to carry out an education, health and care needs assessment to see if your child needs an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Your child can also ask for an assessment when they’re over 16.
Find out about how to request an education, health and care needs assessment in Further information and support below.
An EHCP sets out your child’s needs and the support the local authority will put in place for them.
All professionals who support your child work together to shape this plan. It should be reviewed at least annually. It should be up to date and current, so if something changes an early review should be requested.
If your child does get an EHCP, it should also take into account that, even after medication is discontinued, and your child is completely seizure free, underlying brain conditions may persist and continue to affect learning.
Further information and support
To find out more about getting the right SEND support for your child, click on the links below:
- GOV.UK – SEND: guide for parents and carers
- GOV.UK – SEND support: easy-read guide for parents
- GOV.UK – SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years
- GOV.UK – Requesting an education, health and care needs assessment
- Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) – How should your nursery, school or college help?
- IPSEA – Get support
- Council for Disabled Children – Local Offer guide
- Council for Disabled Children – Find your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) services
- Council for Disabled Children – Early Years SEND Partnership Programme