SEND Advocacy Blog

A Request for Change is a formal mechanism used within the SEND Tribunal process that allows either party to amend the issues under appeal. Understanding when and how to use one can be important for parents who find that the scope of their appeal needs to shift after proceedings have begun. This post explains the process clearly and what to expect.

If you are pursuing an EHC Plan content appeal at the SEND Tribunal, you will quickly become familiar with the working document. It is a live, editable version of your child's EHC Plan that both you and the local authority use to identify areas of agreement and disagreement throughout the appeal process. Getting to grips with how it works is essential for anyone navigating this stage.

An invisible disability is a condition that has a substantial effect on a person's daily life but is not outwardly visible to others. For children with SEND, this often means their needs are misunderstood, minimised or overlooked entirely. This post helps parents understand the term, why recognition matters and how to advocate for a child whose needs are not always easy for others to see.

Special Educational Needs is the term used in England to describe a learning difficulty or disability that requires additional or different educational support compared to children of the same age. Knowing exactly what SEN means, and what it does not mean, helps parents understand their child's rights and navigate the system with more confidence.

Exam season can be a particularly stressful time for students with SEND, and the support available to them is not always as visible or straightforward as it should be. Whether it is extra time, rest breaks or a separate room, knowing what to ask for and how to ask for it can make a real difference to how a young person performs.

Access arrangements are formal adjustments made to exams and assessments for students who have a learning difficulty, disability or medical condition that puts them at a disadvantage in standard exam conditions. They are not an unfair advantage but a way of ensuring a level playing field. This post explains what is available, who qualifies and how to make sure your child gets the support they are entitled to.

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that affects a person's ability to understand and work with numbers. Often described as the maths equivalent of dyslexia, it is more than just struggling with arithmetic. For children with SEND, dyscalculia can affect everyday tasks, confidence and academic progress. This post helps parents understand what it looks like and what support is available.

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Condition, is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that affects how a person experiences and interacts with the world around them. It is not an illness and it is not something to be fixed. Understanding autism properly helps parents advocate more effectively for their child and work with schools to put the right support in place from an early stage.

Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalisations known as tics. It is often misunderstood and can be difficult for children to manage at school without the right awareness and support in place. This post helps parents understand what Tourette's Syndrome is, how it affects children and what schools should be doing to help.

Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the natural variation in how human brains work and process information. It encompasses conditions including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and more. Rather than viewing these differences as deficits, the neurodiversity movement recognises them as part of normal human variation. Understanding this concept helps parents and educators approach SEND from a more positive and informed perspective.

A blog post on Dysgraphia for parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")

A blog post on Post 16 education for parents/carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")

A blog post on Disability Living Allowance ("DLA") for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND").

A blog post on dyspraxia for parents/carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilites ("SEND")

A blog post about Dyslexia for parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs ("SEN")

A blog post on international literacy day & dyslexia for parents/carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ("SEND")

A blog post on the role of a SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.

A blog post on appeals against placement (section I) in Education Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans)

A blog post for parents and carers on how to appeal the content of an Education Health and Care Plan ("EHC Plan")

All mainstream education settings have a legal duty under s.66 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (“CAFA”) to use their best...