Where you are now

Before you can plan your next move, it helps to know where you actually are. The SEND journey is long, and parents land in this guide at very different points. There is no wrong place to start. There is just your place.

Read through the situations below and see which one sounds most like yours right now:

Just starting out. You suspect your child needs more help than they are getting, but nothing formal is in place yet. You may not have asked for anything, or you have raised it at school and felt brushed off.

Waiting on a decision. You have asked for an assessment or a plan, and now you are waiting to hear back. The silence is hard, and you are not sure what is reasonable to expect.

Got a “no”. You have been refused, an assessment, a plan, or specific support, and you are deciding whether to challenge it.

Have a plan, but it is not working. Your child has an EHC plan (Education, Health and Care plan), but the support on paper is not happening in real life, or it no longer fits.

Wherever you are, two things are true. First, you do not need to read this whole guide today. Find the lesson that fits your moment and start there. Second, you are further along than you feel, because simply understanding where you stand is the step most parents skip.

Once you know your starting point, the rest of the guide will make a lot more sense. Take the quiz if you want a quick steer, then carry on to the next lesson.

This guide covers the law as it applies in England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the rules differ, so check your nation’s guidance.