{"id":6257,"date":"2022-04-21T11:45:03","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T10:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?page_id=6257"},"modified":"2026-05-07T13:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T12:07:08","slug":"send","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/life-stages\/childhood-and-school\/send\/","title":{"rendered":"SEND: Special educational needs and disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This section of the website covers the support system in England for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each topic page is a clear, easy-to-use guide that answers key questions on what SEND is, what the Local Offer is, how the support system works in early years settings and schools, and in education and training for those over 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education, health and care plans and challenging decisions, appeals and tribunals are covered, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also an overview of the different systems in place in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"A\n <\/figure>\n \n
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\n \n What is SEND?\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page tells you about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and special educational provision.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\n \"A\n <\/figure>\n \n
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\n \n SEN support in schools\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page covers support for children aged 5-15 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in school.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\n \"A\n <\/figure>\n \n
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\n \n SEND support for children under five\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page covers support for children under five with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in early years settings.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\n \"Two\n <\/figure>\n \n
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\n \n Support for children over 16 in education or training\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page covers support in education or training for children aged 16 and over with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n \"A\n <\/figure>\n \n
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\n \n Education, health and care plans\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page covers education, health and care plans (EHCPs), including what they are, what they look like and whether your child needs one.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\n \"A\n <\/figure>\n \n
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\n \n EHCP appeals and SEN tribunals\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page tells you how to appeal against a decision if you\u2019re not happy with some aspect of your child\u2019s education, health and care needs assessment\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Special educational needs around the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n \n Additional learning needs in Wales\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page gives a brief overview of the additional learning needs system (ALN system), introduced in September 2021 and being phased in by the summer of 2024.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\n \n Special educational needs in Northern Ireland\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page covers special educational needs (SEN) support in Northern Ireland.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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\n \n Additional support needs for learning in Scotland\n <\/a>\n <\/h2>\n\n \n
\n\t\t\tThis page gives a brief overview of the Education Act 2004 and the Supporting Children’s Learning: Code of Practice.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This content was last reviewed in May 2024. We’ll review it again in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n