Lesson 1.1

Welcome

Reviewed June 2026 About 1 minute to read

Information, not legal advice. Applies in England. Reviewed June 2026.

Watch: A two-minute welcome (placeholder) Ad-free

Welcome. If you are reading this, you are probably tired, a little overwhelmed, and looking for a straight answer. You are in the right place. The SCOPE walks you through the SEND system one step at a time, in plain English, so that by the end you understand your child’s rights as well as anyone in the room.

There is no test and no rush. Start at the beginning or jump to the part you need tonight. Your place is saved in this browser, so you can always pick up where you left off.

Did you know
Almost everything you need to understand the SEND system is already free and public. The hard part is making sense of it, and that is exactly what this guide is for.

One last thing before you begin. The system can feel slow and confusing, and that is not your fault. Once you can see how it fits together, it gets a lot easier to handle. Correct as of June 2026

Resources

Helpful links

Important: This is general information, not legal advice, and it applies to England. SEN law, statutory timescales and guidance can change, and every child's situation is different. Check the current position, or take specialist advice, before you act. For free, independent support, contact IPSEA or your local SENDIASS. Last reviewed: July 2026.