In this article, we’re looking at what schooling options are available to special education needs (SEN) children in the UK and how to access them…
Raising a special needs child can be incredibly rewarding but it can also be frustrating when you feel that your child is not getting the educational support that they need. Parents of SEN children can sometimes struggle to find the help that their child needs and many find that they have to resort to seeking assistance from special educational needs lawyers to get the resources they’re entitled to.
In this article, we’re looking at the schooling options available to SEN children in the UK and how to access them.
What are Special Education Needs?
This term refers to circumstances in which a child’s condition or disability means that they may struggle to grasp educational concepts or have difficulty navigating the physical parts of going to school. Special education needs can range from physical disabilities such as hearing or sight impairment or a condition such as Down’s Syndrome which prevents a child from learning as much and as fast as other children.
What Schooling Options Are Available to SEN Children?
Below we’ll be taking a look at some of the educational support available to SEN children…
Specialist schools
In some instances, an SEN child will need more support than a mainstream school can provide. In these cases, a place at a specialist school may be available. These schools are created to address the difficulties that SEN children may face and to provide the necessary support within a learning environment.
If a child is already within the school system, a parent can request a meeting with the school’s SEN coordinator who will be able to tell them what their options are in terms of specialist schools. If the child is not in the school system, the parent should contact their local council for advice.
Mainstream school support
Where possible, it’s largely thought that attending a mainstream school can be extremely beneficial for an SEN child and there will usually be support available to make this happen. Such support within mainstream schools includes:
- Speech therapy for children with a hearing impairment
- Assistive technology such a voice to text devices
- One-on-one support for learning
- Psychology assessments
- Sensory rooms
When enrolling an SEN child into a mainstream school, parents should speak with the head teacher to make them aware of the child’s special needs and to find out what kind of support is available. Parents may also begin by contacting their local council which will be able to offer advice on the best school for the child’s individual needs.
Additional support
Parenting a special needs child can be a lonely business and while UK schools can offer a number of types of support, parents may feel that they need additional support. The Council for Disabled Children is a great resource for parents of SEN children and is able to offer practical help as well as emotional support. Similarly, Action for Children provides free advice and support to parents of special needs children up to the age of 25 in the UK.
Parents of children and young people with special educational needs may also be eligible for an education, health and care (EHC) plan. Available from local authorities, an EHC plan aims to identify the social, health and educational needs of an SEN child and then set out a plan of support for the child and his or her parents.
Financial support
In order to successfully enter the education system, a SEN child may need equipment and even specialist transport. In many cases, financial support is available from the government to help SEN children fulfil their educational potential. This includes the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) which is a UK government scheme which offers payments to disabled and special needs students as well as financial support toward the purchase of equipment such as computers.
Learning together
As understanding and awareness of special educational needs continue to grow in the UK, councils are working hard to make support available. One of the main challenges for parents of SEN children is that they simply do not know what is available to their child and how to access support. A good first port of call is to get in touch with your local authority or council which will be able to put you in touch with the right schools and organisations. In some cases, a support worker or social worker may be assigned to a family to help the child transition into the school system.
Once a child is within the school system, communication is essential. Parents should ensure that the school’s teachers and head teachers are aware of the child’s special needs and parents should request written clarification on the support which may be available to the child through the school.
In this article, we’ve highlighted some of the physical, emotional and financial support available to SEN children and their parents. Unfortunately, there are few instances in which this support is either withheld or not freely given. In this instance, parents should first speak with the head teacher at the school. If this does not resolve the issue the parent may need to consider seeking the services of a special educational solicitor.
Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained legal professional. Be sure to consult a SEND lawyer/solicitor if you’re seeking advice on SEND law. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.