Choosing the Right School for a Child with Special Educational Needs

Mainstream school — Most children with SEN attend mainstream schools. By law, mainstream schools must make reasonable adjustments and provide SEN support from their own resources. Mainstream with SEN unit or resourced provision — These schools have dedicated specialist facilities within a mainstream setting. Children spend some time in the unit and some in mainstream classes. These usually require an EHCP. Special school — For children whose needs cannot be met in mainstream, even with support. Usually requires an EHCP naming the school. Independent specialist school — Private schools with SEN expertise. Can be named on an EHCP if the local authority agrees to fund it. Alternative provision (AP/PRU) — For children who cannot attend mainstream school, often due to exclusion or medical needs.

• Staff training — What SEN-specific training have teachers and TAs received? • SENCO availability — Is the SENCO full-time, experienced, and accessible? • Differentiation — How do they adapt lessons for different needs? • Communication — How will you be kept informed of progress? • Social inclusion — How do they ensure SEN children are not isolated at break times? • Physical accessibility — If relevant, is the building accessible? Are there sensory rooms? • Transition support — How do they handle transitions between classes, year groups, and schools? • Peer awareness — Do they educate all children about different needs?

Our SEN School Finder at /sen lets you: • Select your child's specific needs (ASD, SEMH, SLCN, HI, VI, PD, SpLD, MLD, SLD, PMLD, MSI) • Filter by schools with SEN units, resourced provision, or special school status • See availability — whether the school has places or is full • View EHCP pupil counts and SEN support numbers • Check which specific needs each school caters for • Hover on any need code badge to see what it means in plain English

If your child needs more support than a school can provide from its own resources, you can request an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). An EHCP is a legal document that describes your child's needs and the specific provision they must receive. If a school is named on an EHCP, that school must admit your child. See our full EHCP Guide at /ehcp-guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

• You have the right to request a mainstream school placement — the local authority cannot refuse just because a special school would be cheaper. • You can request a specific school to be named on the EHCP. • You have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal if you disagree with the local authority's decision. • The school must implement the provision described in Section F of the EHCP.

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