With Learning Disabilities Week being marked this week, we have asked The Good Schools Guide’s SEN consultancy manager, Charlotte Phillips, to answer your SEN questions on navigating the complex SEN system. 

I think my child may have SEND. What’s the first thing I should do?  

Learning differences are anything that makes it harder for a child to learn in comparison to their peers and which are impacting on their happiness. Of course, not every child who is struggling at school or at home will have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), but if your child is struggling in a way that others of the same age are not and it’s not getting better over time, it can be a sign that something is wrong.  

The differences might be subtle, from being easily distracted to finding it hard to cope with change or make friends. While you know that your child is bright and creative, the work they produce doesn’t reflect this. They can be distressed, anxious, get into trouble (you may be the parent who is always being asked to stay behind at pick up time). Generally, they are not flourishing or coping academically, socially or emotionally.  

Depending on how old your child is, the starting point might be to speak to your GP or health visitor or – if they’re of school age, start with your child’s class teacher or SENDCo (the school’s head of learning support). You don’t need a formal diagnosis to request help for your child. If you suspect your child has a ‘learning difference’, or you’re just worried about them, seek advice. Timing matters. If your child does need support, the earlier this happens the more effective it is likely to be. 

Finally, don’t be fobbed off. You are the expert in your child and their best advocate. If you feel something isn’t right, keep pushing until you are heard.  

My neurodiverse child has managed in a mainstream primary school. What should I think about when it comes to looking for secondary schools?  

An inclusive mainstream school is the first choice of many families, and it’s not hard to understand why. This can work very well at primary level. Primary schools are often small, with a family feel. Every child is known, much teaching is form room based with the same teacher for most lessons.  

However, secondary schools can be a very different proposition. Many children, whether or not they are neurodiverse, can find the transition to senior school extremely stressful. Schools are larger and noisier. The pace is faster, expectations greater. Children are expected to become independent learners, manage their possessions, understand where they’re supposed to be at a particular time, cope with noise and find their place socially.  

Talk to senior schools about how transition is planned for children with learning needs. Will the head of learning support liaise with their current school? Will the support they currently receive still be in place at their new school and how will it work? Will they be able to visit the school and get used to it before they start there? Where can they go if they feel overwhelmed at lunchtime or break? Who can they – and you – talk to if there is a problem and how are staff at the new school kept in the loop so everyone knows how to support your child.  

Ultimately, it’s important to keep an open mind. Just because a child has flourished in a mainstream primary school doesn’t guarantee that a mainstream senior school will be right. At the same time, if the right support is offered and everyone understands what your child needs to be happy and successful, they may be just fine.  

Are state or independent schools better at supporting children with SEN?  

If a school is caring, inclusive and wants to do the best for every pupil, then your child has a good chance of succeeding, regardless of whether it is state or independent. Our tips would include: 

• Taking the schools’ SEND policies as a starting point. All sound brilliant. They can seem suspiciously similar – there’s a lot of cut and pasting going on.  

• Doing some research to see how the reality matches up to the website wording. Some independent schools, for example, are brilliant with SEND but don’t advertise the fact – they’ll say that they ‘don’t want to be seen as a specialist school.’ Pupils lucky enough to get a place (and it’s a definite benefit if your child joins in nursery or reception, before the SEN team’s resources are fully committed) can find a really welcoming environment.  

• Checking that the headteacher is supportive. However amazing the SENDCo, if the head and senior leadership team don’t share their vision, they may not have the power they need to deliver the support.  

• Finding out how much time the SENDCo actually has to provide SEND support. If they have substantial teaching responsibilities and a department of zero they’re unlikely to be devoting much time to supporting children with learning differences.  

• Asking how much support a child can get. Typically, this will be one or two sessions of support a week, either on an individual basis or in a small group. In theory, state schools are inclusive and thus free to offer more support. Their difficulty is lack of funding which can also impact on how much support a child gets.  

• Are schools open and welcoming?  If an independent school sounds as if it’s doing you a favour by considering your child rather than being privileged to have the opportunity to welcome them as a pupil, then think twice.  

• Will they teach one thing 20 ways (if required), not 20 things one way, finding out what works for your child and making it happen?  

• Will they relish your child’s successes – not see them in terms of learning differences?  

• A school should feel privileged to have your child and see them in the round. They should be known first and foremost for their success and talents, not for their learning needs.  

Charlotte Phillips and her team of SEN consultants help hundreds of parents each year and have first-hand experience both as parents of children with SEN and as qualified specialist teachers, therapists or advocates. 

The Good Schools Guide provides unrivalled, up-to-date and unbiased reviews of over 1,300 state, independent and special schools plus hundreds of free in-depth articles on all aspects of education.  

Visit thegoodschoolsguide.co.uk for more information