Education
Special Education provision for disabled children are provided under the Children and Families Act 2014, which introduced Education Health and Care Plans. There are a lot of resources already available to guide parents in the special educational needs system, in fact it was a desire to see similar resources accessible for other aspects of childhood disability that led to the creation of this website. The resources below give links to organisations who give advice on educational matters, and links to resources showing how the process should work. There are also links to Facebook groups which parents may find helpful for advice on education, although care should be taken when relying on any advice from non-professionals.
As EHCP's are a 'single plan' this information may be considered alongside the section on children's social care, and with the section on meeting health needs. For information on home school transport see the transport section.
All content on this website is to enable parents to have access to the information they need to make their own decisions and is not advice. None of the information is original, this is collated documents freely available on the web and links are provided to show the original source and author of each item where possible.
IPSEA has free resources to help families get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and/or disability (SEND). They also have a very popular advice line which provides legally based information and next step advice on any educational issue that is the result of your child’s special educational needs or disability, and a dedicated tribunal helpline to assist with appeals.
Special Needs Jungle creates easy to understand resources, articles and information for parents and carers of children with special needs, disabilities and health conditions to better enable them to navigate the special needs system. They aim to inform, educate and empower families to self-advocate confidently, so their children get the help they need to live the best life they can.
SOS!SEN is a national charity aiming to empower parents and carers of children with SEN to tackle successfully themselves the difficulties they face when battling for their children’s rights. They provide a telephone helpline, a monthly drop in advice centre, and information sheets on many topics.
Statutory guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.
Statutory guidance about the support that pupils with medical conditions should receive at school.
Guidance setting out a clear framework within which Local Authorities, NHS Primary Care Trusts, schools, early years settings and families are able to work together to develop policies to ensure that children requiring medicines receive the support they need.
Local Authorities are responsible for arranging suitable full-time education for permanently excluded pupils, and for other children who – because of illness or other reasons – would not receive suitable education without such provision.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the rights for disabled children to be able to access childcare and nursery placements.
Barrister David Wolfe, former part-time chair of Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, lists case law for use when considering SEN plans.
A report by the Children's Commissioner into illegal exclusion from school, including children on part time timetables and those sent home because the school is unable to meet their medical needs.
An organisation to help parents navigate the special education needs system, with a particularly helpful Facebook group. Education Equality can also provide assistance in appealing against SEN decisions.
A Facebook group which aims to help support those with the challenges of the EHCP system.
