Most children with special educational needs and disabilities can receive the help they need in mainstream education.
This includes when at nursery, at primary or secondary school or at college.
If your child is below school age, you can find childcare providers on essex.gov.uk
For children over 4 you can search for schools on essex.gov.uk
If you think your child might need extra support, there are people you can speak to.
For help with anxiety about going to school, you can watch a video on Essex County Council's YouTube channel.
Who to speak to
The first person to speak to could be your child’s teacher, or key worker in a nursery setting. Trust your instincts and speak to who you feel knows your child best.
Many issues can be addressed by a class teacher. If your child's needs are more than their teacher can help with, they can refer you to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). They can work with you and professionals to plan support for your child.
What is a SENCO and how can they help
A Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is a staff member who’s responsible for making sure children with extra needs receive the help they need. They are your point of contact. They support with:
- the identification of children with special educational needs
- resources to help with individual needs
- speaking with parents to make sure children are receiving the right help for them
- speaking with providers outside of school, for example educational psychologists
A SENCO’s goal is to develop ways of overcoming barriers to your child's learning.
Find advice on how to speak to your SENCO on Scope's website.
How to prepare for a conversation with your school
It can help to write down a list of things you have noticed to speak to your school about.
This could include:
- what makes you think your child has special educational needs
- what people working with your child have noticed
- find out what you can do to help
- what the school can do to help
- any difficulties your child experiences outside of school
There is useful guidance on how to speak to your school on the SENDIASS website.