If you start to notice your child appears to be experiencing difficulties in school or the gap between their peers is widening, you may start wondering if the child has Special Educational Needs.
The Children and Families Act 2014 states that a child or young person has Special Educational Needs (SEN) if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. A child of compulsory school age or a young person will be deemed to have a learning difficulty or disability if they have:
An SEN can relate to many areas, including a child’s:
We're rated‘Excellent’As a parent, you are in a good position to tell whether or not your child is struggling in certain areas, and you may start to worry about your child’s development. If this is the case, you should speak to your GP, the child’s school teacher or your health visitor, and give them specific examples of your areas of concern. The professionals you speak to may be able to help support you themselves or signpost you to others who can.
Some parents may not want to raise their concerns with the school as they might think it is pointless asking for support or they may not want to be seen to be making a fuss. However, you should not feel uncomfortable about raising this possibility with the appropriate professionals, as it may be the case that further support can be provided and the sooner it is identified, the sooner your child can get the support they need.
Staff at pre-schools, nurseries, schools and academies should be happy to talk with you about your concerns regarding your child’s development and work with you to ensure adequate educational provision is made for them.
If you are having any issues with a school not providing adequate educational provision for a child with Special Educational Needs, contact our specialist team of Education Solicitors and SEN Lawyers to discuss how we can help you.
If you and the professionals working with your child agree they do have SEN, it may be the case that the support they need goes beyond what can reasonably be provided by a mainstream school.
In this case, an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan may be required. This is a legally binding document requiring a Local Authority to provide what is written in certain sections of the Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
If you believe your child isn’t getting the support they need at school, despite its best efforts, or the school is saying that it doesn’t have the resources to meet their special needs, then you can apply for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).
The school can also ask for an EHCNA, so it’s a good idea for parents and teachers to discuss a potential request in advance, as this gives the school an opportunity to support it. While this isn’t essential, it may be advantageous in some cases. However, you should not be put off making your own request if the school tells you to wait or that you will not qualify for support. Unfortunately parents often report being told this and whilst the schools views would be considered by the Local Authority, you do not need their support for the legal test for an EHCNA or an EHCP to be met.
Making an appeal to the SEND Tribunal can be daunting to begin with. But having to attend the Hearing virtually may leave you feeling even more overwhelmed, especially if you’re not used to using tech in your everyday life.
31 March is an important date for your child or young person if they have an EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) in place and are due to transfer to the Post 16/19 phase of their education.
A good Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) should be clear, concise, understandable and accessible to education providers and practitioners, as well as the parents, child or young person.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our education law team, or call our team today on: 0808 239 9764
