Children with SEND

Children and young people in care are up to four times more likely to have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) compared to those not in care.  Foster carers can learn about the EHCP application process and SEND admissions by watching the videos below.

Admissions for children with an EHCP

Special educational needs support
Your child will get SEN support at their school or college.
Your child may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan if they need more support than their school provides.
Children under 5:
SEN support for children under 5 includes:
  • a written progress check when your child is 2 years old
  • a child health visitor carrying out a health check for your child if they’re aged 2 to 3
  • a written assessment in the summer term of your child’s first year of primary school
  • making reasonable adjustments for disabled children, like providing aids like tactile signs
Nurseries, playgroups and childminders registered with Ofsted follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The framework makes sure that there’s support in place for children with SEND.

Talk to a doctor or health adviser if you think your child has SEND but they do not go to a nursery, playgroup or childminder. They’ll tell you what support options are available.
Children between 5 and 15:
Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs:
  • a special learning programme
  • extra help from a teacher or assistant
  • to work in a smaller group
  • observation in class or at break
  • help taking part in class activities
  • extra encouragement in their learning, for example to ask questions or to try something they find difficult
  • help communicating with other children
  • support with physical or personal care difficulties, for example eating, getting around school safely or using the toilet
Young people aged 16 or over in further education:
Contact the college before your child starts further education to make sure that they can meet your child’s needs.
The college and your local authority will talk to your child about the support they need.
For free, impartial, and confidential information and advice you can contact the Sutton IASS team (SIASS). To find out more information you can visit their website.
To find out more information and support for families with children and young people with learning needs and disabilities you can visit Sutton’s SEND Local Offer website.