SEN support in mainstream schools
What support is available for your child.
On this page
What is SEN support?
All children learn in different ways and at different speeds. Some children find learning harder than others. This might be in:
- reading, writing or maths
- communication
- social skills
These children may need extra help to make progress.
A child or young person has special educational needs (SEN) if they:
- find learning much harder than others of the same age, or
- need support that is different from or additional to what most children receive
The legal definition of SEN has not changed.
If your child’s nursery, school or college thinks your child may have SEN, they must talk to you about it.
Most children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) go to a mainstream school. They should get support to help them learn and make progress.
This support is called SEN support. It means help that is additional to or different from the support given to most children of the same age.
Schools in Oxfordshire use the SEND ordinarily available toolkit (pdf format) to help decide what support your child may need.
The school or setting must:
- tell you before they start extra support
- involve you in decisions
- keep you informed about progress
- discuss any plans to reduce or stop support.
The send code of practice
The SEND Code of Practice explains what schools, local authorities and other services must do to support children and young people with SEN and disabilities.
- Must means it is a legal requirement
- Should means they are expected to follow the guidance, unless they have a good reason not to.
The graduated approach
SEN support follows a step-by-step process called the graduated approach. This allows support to increase if needed.
This may include:
- a personalised learning programme
- extra help from a teacher or teaching assistant
- small group or one-to-one teaching
- adapted materials or equipment
- a plan with clear targets and regular reviews
- support from specialists, such as educational psychologists or therapists
The school should involve you and your child in decisions and keep you updated on progress.
If your child is not making enough progress, the school may ask for advice from specialists. This could include an educational psychologist, specialist teacher or speech and language therapist.
The four stages of SEN support
SEN support is delivered in a cycle of four stages:
Assess
The school looks at your child’s needs.
- The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) leads this work
- You and your child should be involved
- The school may ask for specialist advice with your agreement
Plan
If your child needs SEN support, the school must tell you.
- you will agree the support to be put in place
- you will agree the outcomes expected
- you will agree when progress will be reviewed
Do
The support is put in place.
- the class teacher is responsible for your child’s learning
- support staff work closely with the teacher
- the school records the support being given
Review
The school reviews your child’s progress with you.
This should happen at least three times a year.
You will discuss:
- what progress has been made
- whether the support is working
- what should happen next
If your child is not making progress, the school may:
- change the support
- involve more specialists
You can also ask other professionals for advice if they are not already involved.
In some cases, you or the school may ask the local authority for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment.
Find out what support your school offers
Every school must publish information about SEN support on its website.
This should include:
- how the school supports children with SEN
- who the SENCo is and how to contact them
- how needs are identified
- how parents and young people are involved
- how teaching is adapted
- what training staff have
- which specialist services are used
- how support is reviewed
- how children are included in activities
- how wellbeing is supported
- support for starting school and moving on
- who to contact if you have concerns or want to complain
You can also ask your child’s teacher or the SENCo for more information.
Further guidance
Schools in Oxfordshire and a link to their SEND and Inclusion policies.
SENDIASS provides helpful guidance (pdf format) on what to look for when choosing a school.