1st Edition
The SEND Handbook for Parents and Carers How to Navigate the SEND System and Support Your Child Through School
Being a parent of a neurodivergent child can be challenging and exhausting. It can feel like a constant battle to be heard and to gain the support that you and your child need. This book provides an accessible overview of the SEND system and how it works, so that you can successfully untangle and navigate the system and draw upon the best resources offered.
The handbook is divided into three main parts: SEND systems, policy, and legislation; support for your child in school; and looking forward. Chapters:
- Introduce the world of SEND systems and break down key documentation and the roles and responsibilities of school staff.
- Take you on your child’s journey through school and explore key aspects from assessment and EHCPs, to funding and gaining further support for your child.
- Look ahead and consider important transitions through each of the school phases in your child’s journey and allows you to acknowledge some of your own fears and challenges as a parent.
- Include a range of both practical and reflective activities to bring each area to life.
The voices of parents and carers are woven in throughout the book, as well as key staff who you might encounter, from occupational therapists to speech and language therapists. This comprehensive guide will be an essential tool to support your journey to get the best from your child’s school experience.
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Introduction: How to use this book
Part One – SEND Systems, Policy and Legislation
Chapter 1 – How did we get our current SEND system in schools?
Chapter 2 – What is the Code of Practice and what does it mean? The roles and responsibilities of school staff
Part Two – Support for Your Child in School
Chapter 3 – How your child is assessed in school: The graduated approach
Chapter 4 – Education, health and care plans: What are they, how to apply and how to appeal a decision
Chapter 5 – Funding and support for your child
Part Three – Looking Forward
Chapter 6 – Transitions: From Early Years to post-16 and beyond
Chapter 7 – How to get the most from parents’ evenings, review meetings and annual reviews
Chapter 8 – Supporting your child at home with their education
Chapter 9 – What next for your child? Looking to the Future
Glossary of Key Terms
Biography
Sarah Alix has worked in Education for nearly 20 years, with experience across a range of settings including schools and universities. She has a Doctorate in Education, a psychology degree, and post-graduate qualifications including the SENCo award and PGCert in Autism. Sarah currently works for the Sigma Trust in Essex leading the teacher training provision and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She has a great personal awareness and understanding of neurodiversity through her own family members.
“As a parent of three children with SEND, I would have loved to have a book like this when we began navigating our own journey of SEND support and EHCPs in school. The SEND Handbook for Parents and Carers is a really useful guide which helps to outline SEND systems and the support available in schools whilst explaining key terms used. With helpful ideas and tips, this book is a must-read for parents who are supporting a school-aged child with SEND.” – Tamsin Grimmer, Early Years Consultant and parent of three autistic girls
“This book works through the rollercoaster ride that is SEND parenting in such a clear, simple way and is easy to read and return to at different stages of your parenting journey. It breaks down legislation, processes, systems, applications and timescales and is an invaluable resource to have at your fingertips. The points for professional discussion for parents to take to meetings with professionals are a game changer. The book is full of case studies that help parents recognise the link to their own situation, with great tips and reflection points for things parents may not yet have considered. Every parent of a child navigating the SEND pathway in education should have a copy of this book.” - Cheryl Warren, SEND Trainer and Consultant; Director, Aperion Training
“This book is an invaluable resource to help parents navigate the SEND system. I wish I had had a copy when going for my child's Education, Health and Care Plan, EHCP; it could have saved us time and stress! I will definitely be recommending it to the parent members of my local Parent Carer Form, as well as the schools I work with to help them provide signposting to their parents” - Alice Hoyle, Wellbeing Education Consultant and mum of three
