How to get SEND support

Your nursery, school or college will talk to you about your child’s learning at parent evenings or they may arrange a meeting.  

They will tell you about the support your child is getting in school. This may include: 

• small groups 
• seating arrangements 
• making sure learning materials are adapted for your child 

Some children may need more support than this.  

The class teacher and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) may call a meeting to discuss your child receiving additional support. This is called SEND Support.

You can also approach your school or nursery if you think your child has additional needs. 

We'll involve your child in designing the support they want to get. 

What is SEND support 

Your child’s school will adapt teaching to suit all children’s learning style and rate. If your child is not making progress or is struggling to learn in school, they may have special educational needs (SEN).  

The class teacher and SENCo will meet with you to talk about your child’s needs and the additional support we can give. If you agree with the school, your child will start getting the extra support. 

Throughout the whole process, the school will explain SEND support and the graduated approach. This is a four-stage process to make sure your child is making progress. 

The four stages are: 

• assess 
• plan 
• do 
• review 

Assess your child’s needs

We'll identify your child’s needs to give the right kind of support. This will involve: 

• talking to you about your views on your child’s needs and how they are at home 
• talking to professionals who know your child well such as the class teacher or a subject specialist 
• looking at records of progress that the school will have for your child 

Plan their support

You’ll work with the school to decide what goals you want your child to achieve and what support will help them meet their goals.

Everyone involved will help shape the support your child will get. They will also decide on a date to review the plan.

You’ll get a written copy of the plan.

Do – put the plan into action

You’ll work with the school or nursery to deliver the planned support.

The teacher is responsible for making sure that all adults involved help your child get the support you all agreed on.

The SENCo and any support or specialist teaching staff should work closely to track your child’s progress and check if the support is working.  

Review the outcomes of the plan

Everyone involved should review the support your child receives at the agreed time. You’ll decide if the:

• support is working and your child is making progress  
• outcomes you set have been achieved 

If your child has made progress, they’ll: 

• continue getting SEND support until the next review date
• stop getting the support if there is no longer a need

If your child has not made enough progress, the review will be an opportunity to discuss a new support plan. This will start a new cycle of the assess, plan, do and review approach.

Find out more about SEND support in the Royal Borough of Greenwich:

SEND support funding

Schools receive funding to meet the needs of children who receive SEND support. The Headteacher, SENCo and governing body decides how to use the funding.  

This supports:

• interventions at school
• adaptations to the environment
• additional staffing

SEND support outside of a mainstream school

In certain circumstances, we may arrange for your child to receive education that is not in a school.  

Find out more about education other than at school (EOTAS): 

Guidance

Useful guidance and support documents: