SEND: all your questions answered

We are shining the spotlight on the most common SEND questions being sent in to our parent advisers. There are a variety of different types of schools and educational settings for children with special educational needs and disabilities, but trying to understand the differences between them can be overwhelming. Armed with advice from our expert SEND team, it’s our job to help parents find the right support and provision for their child – so read on to find out everything you need to know.

What are special needs schools?
Special needs schools offer dedicated provision for particular types of additional need. These can vary greatly, from schools supporting learners with severe cognitive needs to those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

How many special needs schools are there in the UK?
There are around 1,500 special needs schools in the UK. This is in addition to the resourced provision at state mainstream schools where learners gain additional support and learn mostly in mainstream classes, and SEN units in mainstream schools where learners have dedicated classes.

Are special needs schools private?
There are independent special needs schools, charitable special needs schools and local authority or academy-run special needs schools in the state sector. In order to access state special needs schools or specialist units of mainstream state schools, it is likely that your child will need an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). This may also be needed for entry to some independent schools too. Likewise, if you are seeking funding from your local authority for an independent specialist placement, you will also need an EHCP that names the school.

What is an EHCP?
An EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan) is a legal document issued by a local authority stating the needs of a child and the specialist education and health care provision the child should have. Local authorities are under a legal obligation to secure the provision set out in the plan. The plan names an education setting and the support in the plan should be funded by the local authority, whichever way the support is delivered. We recommend the Ipsea website for independent advice about obtaining an EHCP.

Does my child need an EHCP?
Children with SEND should have their needs met in their existing school, unless it is unable to provide this support through best-practice teaching. Schools are required to make reasonable adjustments including for mental-health-related needs, and an EHCP should not be required unless specialist support above this is needed. However, if the school has tried to meet your child’s needs and is not able to, it could be worth investigating if your child needs an EHCP. We can help with this if you are considering it.

Can my child go to a special needs school?
Yes, if they meet the entry requirements, will benefit from the support provided and there is availability. It is likely that reporting about your child’s needs (including from an educational psychologist) will be helpful. For state specialist schools or to gain funding from a local authority, it will be necessary to have an EHCP that specifies the school involved.

How should I choose the right school for my child with special needs?
The school that is best for your child will depend on their needs, strengths and skills. We recommend looking at what is going well and not going well, and using this to identify the key requirements that you are looking for in a school.

Often schools focus on a particular major need, and it is not always easy to find a good fit. It is well worth doing detailed due diligence about special needs schools, as their academic levels can be quite different from mainstream schools, and meeting your child’s cognitive needs is just as important as gaining additional support.

Children also need to be in a school with an appropriate and motivating peer group and where their mental health will be supported. A school that offers all the specialist support needed but does not have an appropriate peer group may not be successful.

What do SEN schools provide?
They are designed to provide specific educational and therapeutic support for a certain population of children. It is worth looking carefully at the school’s scope to make sure it genuinely aligns with your child’s needs, particularly where certain therapies are required or specified in your child’s EHCP (if they have one).

What are the so-called five learning difficulties?
There are, in fact, more than five different learning difficulties, and the single most common type of SEND according to the Department for Education (2022) is autism. Others include dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and ADHD.

The four areas of need in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice are: communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, emotional and mental-health needs; and physical and/or sensory needs.

Are there special schools for autism?
Yes, there are special schools for autism. Like all special schools, they vary greatly in what they offer and what kind of learner they are for. For example, the academic levels being worked at can range from highly academic to those working on functional life skills. Some schools offer a low arousal environment, and others are not so specific in the environment they offer.

Again, it is worth starting from what your child needs and screening schools based upon what you are looking for. This may seem like a simple point, although as the UK education system is based upon the presumption that children are best educated in mainstream schools, specialist school provision can feel scarce, and this can be a pressure for parents. However, being methodical about making choices can help increase the chances that a new specialist placement will be successful.

What are the advantages of special schools?
The advantages are that the school can focus on your child’s areas of greatest need and also allow learners to be more independent, with a tailored educational programme that allows your child to succeed in the best way for them. There is also the potential for therapeutic support such as in relation to literacy and numeracy skills, and speech and language and occupational therapy. Often these therapies can be incorporated into the curriculum to provide an embedded level of support. Other advantages include a greater scope of certifications, such as including Entry Levels, Functional Skills and ASDAN qualifications.

If you are struggling to work out which school is right for your child or you do not have a clear picture of their profile and needs, our advisory team can help you narrow down the options and find the right professionals to provide guidance on supplementing provision if it is needed. We are here to help.

SEND: all your questions answered

TE Schools Advice