These helpful SEND resources bring together trusted information, guidance and useful links to help families better understand the SEND system, know where to turn for support and feel more confident navigating their child’s journey.
This is the statutory guidance that schools, local authorities, early years providers, colleges, and health bodies must have regard to when supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
This is UK legislation that reformed support for children and young people, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It introduced Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), replacing previous statements of SEN, and requires education, health and social care services to work together to provide coordinated, person-centred support from birth to age 25.
The Equality Act 2010 protects disabled children and young people from discrimination in education and other areas of everyday life. It places a legal duty on schools, colleges and other education providers to make reasonable adjustmentsso that disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared with their peers.
IPSEAÂ is a leading UK charity providing free, independent legal advice to families navigating SEND systems. They help parents understand their legal rights and challenge decisions around EHCPs, school support, and education provision where needed. They have lots of useful resources on their website.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014Â set out the detailed legal requirements that support the SEND system in England. They explain how Education, Health and Care needs assessments and EHCPs must be carried out, including the processes, timescales, and duties of local authorities and professionals. These regulations work alongside the SEND Code of Practice to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive appropriate, lawful, and timely support.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework for making decisions on behalf of people aged 16 and over who may lack the capacity to make certain decisions for themselves. It starts from the principle that everyone should be supported to make their own decisions wherever possible and should not be assumed to lack capacity simply because they have a disability or learning difficulty.