Find out what support there is for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which means they need special educational provisions to be made for them.
Your child might need extra support at school or college if they:
If your family is new to the country and your child has special educational needs, please contact the school admissions team. They will help you find a mainstream school place for your child.
By law, every school and nursery must provide support for pupils with SEND. This includes state schools, academies and free schools. You can read more about the SEND code of practice by visiting GOV.UK.
Schools must contact you if they think your child has any special educational needs. Your child does not need a medical diagnosis first.
Types of support you can find at a mainstream school include:
SENCos are fully qualified teachers who are experts in making changes to the school curriculum and the classroom. They make sure that pupils with SEND are fully included and can make progress.
If your child finds it hard to learn, you should ask to speak to their school SENCo. They will be able to tell you what extra support is available.
The SENCo also maintains the SEN Register and any funding for SEND pupils.
After your child's needs have been identified by the SENCo, they will be added to the SEN Register where they will receive:
The graduated approach allows parents and the school to get a better understanding of the child's needs and what support they need to make progress.
Teachers will work with parents to make sure that the right level of support is in place. This involves regular reviews of the child's progress, with more specialist support.
There are four stages of the approach:
Schools receive funding from the government each year. This includes a budget for SEND pupils to help provide things like specialist equipment and assessments.
Find out more about how SEND is funded in schools.
If your child's needs are not being met in a mainstream school, you may be able to apply for a specialist school. Find and compare the different types of specialist schools and provisions in Leeds.
You can also find out more about early support in schools in the Leeds 3A's Strategy
Often a person is identified as having SEND early on in their life. If you're worried about your child, you can speak to your doctor or a healthcare professional.
If they think your child has SEND, they will share this with our Learning Inclusion Services. We will then be able to offer you help and advice.
Your school or doctor may refer your child to one of our specialist services. They will either work with your child’s school, directly with your child or with your child and family.
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