Firstly, welcome. You are amongst many parents in the same position. Most of us at SOS!SEN have been where you are.

If you are looking at our website, chances are you know or believe your child may have special educational needs that require support at school.  And no one knows your child better than you do.  Your own insight is really important.

There are four broad areas of need:

• Communication and Interaction
• Cognition and Learning
• Social emotional and mental health difficulties
• and Sensory and/or physical needs.

You may have already spoken to the SENCO at school, your child may already been getting support for one or more of these areas. Or you could find yourself wondering what to expect, how to know what the school should be providing, and what you do next to make sure your child gets support..

Here’s a few things you can do to get acquainted with the system.

1. If you haven’t already, introduce yourself to the SENCO at school. Make sure they are aware of your child’s needs or possible needs. Give them a history, any diagnoses you are aware, and any insight you have as to how their needs are likely to impact their learning and behaviours in a classroom
2. There are lots of online resources to help offer guidance. You may well also be part of a social media community group to share experiences.
3. Our website offers an oversight of the process, with links to legislation, where relevant, and useful reading to help enhance your understanding
4. We offer a range of services to help you at each stage of the SEN journey. Take a look at our services section of this website.
5. It’s helpful to have your documents relating to your child or young person’s needs in a central place – and print out a copy. It’s easier for you to access information that you may need to refer to when speaking to others – teachers, SENCO, professionals and if you are in touch with our volunteer teams.
6. If you feel like dipping into the SEND Code of Practice 2014, it’s a really informative read and is written in a way to be very accessible. It will give you a wealth of information about the SEND system in England and the processes around supporting the SEN of children and young people. With an EHCP or without.