SEND and school:

SEND stands for special educational needs and disabilities. A child has special educational needs if they learn differently from most children of the same age, and need extra or different help at school. SEND can affect learning, communication, behaviour or emotions, or physical and sensory needs. A child can have SEND with or without a diagnosis. Finding school harder because English is an additional language is not, by itself, a special educational need.

Most children with SEND are supported in their local mainstream school. By law, schools must do everything they reasonably can (their “best endeavours”) to meet your child’s needs. Every school has a SENCO – the special educational needs coordinator. Ask to speak to them first if you are worried. Support is planned in a repeating cycle: assess, plan, do, review – and you should be involved at every step. Support can include small-group work, adapted teaching, emotional support (for example an ELSA), or referrals to services such as CAMHS. You can read your school’s SEND policy and your council’s Local Offer to see what help should be available. From 2026 the government is introducing statutory Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for children with identified SEND – see “What is changing” below.

In February 2026 the government published the schools white paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving – the biggest reform of SEND in a decade. Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will become a legal entitlement for every child with identified SEND – developed with parents, reviewed every year, and no diagnosis needed. EHCPs will be retained for children with the most complex needs. Your rights stay the same. Existing EHCPs remain in place, appeal rights are unchanged, and nothing changes for your child before September 2030. New funding includes £1.6 billion for inclusive mainstream schools and £1.8 billion for expert help in every area (“Experts at Hand”).

You do not have to navigate the SEND system alone. These organisations offer free, independent support (full details and contact information are in section 6 of this pack): Navigating the SEND system: your council’s SENDIAS service (find it through the Local Offer), Special Needs Jungle, and the Council for Disabled Children. Legal challenges and appeals: IPSEA (free legally based advice and tribunal support), SOS!SEN, and Child Law Advice (legal aid). Family support: Contact (helpline 0808 808 3555), Family Fund, and the National Network of Parent Carer Forums. Condition-specific support: National Autistic Society, Scope, National Deaf Children’s Society, British Dyslexia Association, Cerebra, Sense and Kids. For Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish, Scottish and Welsh Traveller families: The Traveller Movement, Friends, Families and Travellers, and ACERT.

What is the difference between SEN and SEND? SEND adds “and disabilities”. In practice schools use both terms for children who need extra help to learn. Does my child need a diagnosis to get support? No. Support should be based on your child’s needs. Under the 2026 reforms, the new Individual Support Plans will not require a diagnosis. How long does an EHCP take? The whole process – from your request to the final plan – should take no more than 20 weeks. What if the council refuses an assessment or a plan? You can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. IPSEA, SOS!SEN and your local SENDIAS service can help for free. Who can help me with the forms? Your council’s SENDIAS service, or our Education Advocacy team on 020 7607 2002.

Need advice? Call The Traveller Movement on 020 7607 2002 or email us at info@travellermovement.org.uk. Our Education Advocacy team supports Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish, Scottish and Welsh Traveller families with SEND, EHCPs and appeals.