SEND: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
Click here to open the guide for parents and carers.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 years who have special educational needs (SEN) or a disability.
What is it about?
This guide describes how the new system that supports children and young people with SEN or disabilities, and parents, is intended to work.
This guide is written for parents. It covers:
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what 'SEN' and 'disability' mean;
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the principles of the system that supports children and young people with SEN or disabilities;
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what the law is and what your rights are;
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how the system should work;
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what early years settings, schools, colleges and other educational providers must do, or should do, to support you and your child;
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what your local authority and other services (such as health and social services) must do, or should do, to support you and your child;
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what you can do if you disagree with, or want to challenge, decisions that are made by organisations providing support for your child.
When should I use it?
You may find it helpful to use this guide if you think your child has SEN, or you have been told by someone – such as your child’s teacher – that they think he or she has SEN. If you know that your child has SEN and you want to know more about how the system works and what to expect, you can use this guide to help you. You might want to use it in meetings with professionals, or to prepare for them. At the end of each chapter, the guide includes a page in case you want to write any notes.
The guide is intended to provide some information covering the whole system. It is also divided into different sections so you can easily find the information you need. It aims to give you the key points, but can’t cover everything. At the end of each section there are signposts to where you can find out more information, and some questions you might want to consider asking professionals and others. Towards the back of the guide you can find a list of organisations and helplines who can offer you more help.