Department for Education SEND Guides
The SEND Guide for Parents and Carers
Easy Read Version
This guide explains how the system that supports children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) works.
It covers:
the law and guidance on which the system is based
places to go for help and further information
details about changes to the system from 1 September 2014
It may also be useful for staff dealing with the parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in:
schools and colleges
early years education settings
How to find a school
The National Network of Parent Carer Forums is a network of over 150 Parent Carer Forums in England. The forums are arranged into 9 regions and are shown below, these follow the same regional breakdown as the Department of Education; each of the regions has a regional representative. All regional representatives work together to form the national steering group.
ISPEA is a national charity providing free legally based advice to families who have children with special educational needs. All trained volunteers give legally based independent advice and support in England and Wales to help the right education for children with SEND. There is also considerable information available on their website including common problems, taking action, exclusion, transport, refusal to assess and more. Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are entitled to support with their education. Follow this link to access their free resources.
ISBI is dedicated to helping parents find schools and has been a trusted source of information on independent, special and boarding schools in the UK and international schools worldwide for 25 years. The web site service is free to use for parents and offers a comprehensive search facility for schools on the internet. The website is designed to help you search, select and shortlist schools for further investigation and school visits.
Gabbitas is a directory designed specifically for parents offering step by step guidance on all aspects of finding the right provision for a child with special educational needs. The Guide includes details of special schools throughout the UK together with information on special needs provision at mainstream independent schools.
Special Schools in Britain | schools for children with special needs (specialneedsuk.org) The site continues to provide Parents and educational professionals with in depth information on the schools/colleges/education centres and support groups for children and young adults with special educational needs.
Find the best school for your child | The Good Schools Guide Helping you make confident choices for your child’s education
Parent Advice and Support Service
Parents can often benefit from live discussion with another parent / trained advisor and the following organisations offer specialist support:
Council for Disabled Children
Umbrella supports families living in Derby City and Derbyshire providing a range of exciting activities. Most services in Derbyshire are provided in Amber Valley, Erewash, Derby City, South Derbyshire and South Derbyshire Dales. Anyone can refer a child or young person to Umbrella including families, social workers, teachers and youth workers. We support children and young people aged 5 to 30 with any special need, including physical, sensory, learning & behavioural disabilities and additional needs. We are able to support a child or young person no matter what their disability as our services are person centred to meet individual needs.
SOS! SEN We offer a free, friendly, independent and confidential telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
The National Autistic Society Parent to Parent (P2P) is a UK-wide confidential telephone support service providing emotional support to parents and carers of a child or adult with autism. The service is provided by trained parent volunteers, both mothers and fathers, who offer telephone support from their own homes.
Contact a Family is the only national charity that exists to support the families of disabled children whatever their condition or disability. With over 30 years of experience, their vision is that families with disabled children are empowered to live the lives they want and achieve their full potential, for themselves, for the communities they live in, and for society. They offer support, information and advice to over 340,000 families each year and campaign for families to receive a better deal.
Educational Equality provides independent information to the families of those with special educational needs throughout England.
Epilepsy Action is the UK’s leading epilepsy organisation and exists to improve the lives of everyone affected by the condition. As a member-led association, we are led by and represent people with epilepsy, their friends, families and healthcare professionals. Telephone: 0808 800 5050
Family Lives works to transform the lives of families making happier relationships, happier families and a stronger society. Their experience enables families to cope with problems or challenges that they face. Trained family support workers, paid and volunteer, offer free and immediate and ongoing help on the phone, online or in local communities. Telephone: 0808 800 2222
The Fragile X Society was formed in 1990 by families whose children had just been diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome. At that time there were no facilities to support and inform families about any aspect of fragile X, and so the Society came into existence. The charity has now grown to consist of a team of dedicated employees and volunteers. Telephone: 01371 875100
The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association is dedicated to supporting people with Prader-Willi Syndrome their families, carers and professionals. Telephone:01332 365676
Special Needs Jungle was started in 2008 by Tania Tirraoro, as a way of preserving the knowledge she had gained successfully navigating the ‘jungle’ of the statementing system for her first younger, then her older son. Over the years, it has expanded from a personal blog into a site that is packed with useful information about special educational needs and disability issues faced by children and their parents. It has personal stories from parents, articles from those providing useful resources and has become a narrative guide to the SEN reforms that have taken place.
PDA Society – Pathological Demand Avoidance
Welcome to the Derbyshire Information, Advice and Support Service for SEND – Derbyshire Information, Advice & Support Service for SEND (derbyshireiass.co.uk) Derbyshire Information, Advice and Support Service (DIASS) provides independent information, advice and support to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as their parents and carers.
Home – Safeguarding Hub Sharing Knowledge and Raising Awareness about Safeguarding Vulnerable People
Autism Eye – Home Your vital source of in-depth autism information and advice
Homepage for the Challenging Behaviour Foundation What is challenging behaviour and how can the Challenging Behaviour Foundation help?
Cerebra – Working with you and your amazing child We help children with brain conditions and their families in many different ways. Through our services we can help you overcome obstacles you may be facing and enable you to discover a better life together with your amazing child.
SENDIASS have services in each Local authority area of the UK and work within the bounds of the legislation, guidance and quality standards to ensure it provides impartial information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with SEND. Search online for them in your local area. You will also find your local authorities ‘Local Offer’.
Home – SEN help (sen-help.org.uk)This website helps parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities living in England to get the right educational provision for their child or young person.
Useful information
Guide for young people aged 16 to 25 on how to resolve SEND disagreements
Department of Education Parent & Carers Guide to the New SEN System Aug 2014 SEN Support Flow chart Stage 1 SEN Support Flow Chart Stage 2 SEN Support Flow Chart Stage 3 SEN Support Flow Chart Stage 4 Check Your Childs Key Stage and Year Group This is me! – NAS Assessment Profile This toolkit gives children and young people with autism the chance to say what changes they would like to make to education, health care and social care plans. Suitable for all ages and abilities, This is me! has been written and developed by The National Autistic Society in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and with the help of children and young people on the spectrum. A Guide to the Children and Families Act
Derbyshire County Council Educational Psychology Service
Derbyshire County Council Information for Children Educational Psychology SEP 17 Older Derbyshire County Council Information for Children Educational Psychology SEP 17 Younger Derbyshire County Council Information for Parents and Carers Educational Psychology Service SEP 17
