What to do if you think your child has special educational needs

At some point, every child and young person faces challenges with learning. With the support of their schools and families, most can get over these hurdles.

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. It can affect their:

  • reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia
  • ability to understand things
  • concentration levels
  • behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends
  • physical ability.

Learn more about the definition of SEND.

To support your child or young person to have the same opportunities as others, we recommend following these steps if you feel they need additional assistance. Or take our interactive quiz to find out who you could talk to:

Who to talk to about my child

1. Have an initial chat with the education setting

It's a good idea to talk to your child's teacher, key person or SENCO about your worries. This could include, their reading, writing or communication or any behaviours outside the classroom.

They will talk to you about any potential support they can put in place based on your child or young person's needs.

We also understand that caring for and looking after a child or young person with SEND can be rewarding and challenging. Find out about support services for families.

2. Research what support is available

After talking to the education setting, we recommend finding out in more detail what support is available in:

3. Set up a meeting with your education setting to discuss additional support

The next step is to set up another meeting with the education setting once you've researched what extra support is available.

You and the education setting should then be able to agree what will happen next. Ask for this to be put in writing, and set a future meeting date to check on any progress of the support agreed.

Find out more about this meeting.

4. Review of the support given

Once your child or young person gets support, they will have regular reviews. This process should be kept open and transparent to you, and your views will be taken into account.

If you have any concerns about their progress, you should contact the SENCO.

5. Request an education, health and care needs assessment (EHC)

If your child or young person is not making the expected progress despite support, ask your education setting for an EHC needs assessment.

Only a small percentage of children need an EHC plan. One may be needed if:

  • your child or young person's needs cannot be met through the support they are currently getting in their educational setting and where the education setting has done everything it can to support them
  • despite the support provided, your child or young person isn't making progress in their learning or development. Especially when the progress they are making is due to significant levels of support.

If you need additional confidential and impartial advice before requesting, contact Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK).

If you don't feel you can ask your educational setting for a needs assessment, or if you prefer to do it yourself, you can request one yourself. It is also possible to request an EHC needs assessment for yourself if you are over 16.

Find out more about EHC plans and how to request a needs assessment.