What SEN Support should look like at school
What SEN Support means, what your child should be getting, and what to do if the school is not providing it.
What SEN Support should look like at school
Before a child has an EHCP, most receive support through something called SEN Support. This is the school's responsibility. It should be a structured, planned approach to meeting your child's needs, not just hoping things improve on their own.
Many parents are told their child is 'on SEN Support' but are never shown what that actually means in practice. This guide explains what you should expect.
What SEN Support is
SEN Support is the level of help a school provides for children with special educational needs who do not have an EHCP. It is part of what the SEND Code of Practice calls the 'graduated approach'.
The graduated approach works in a cycle:
- Assess: The school identifies your child's needs
- Plan: Together with you, they agree what support will be put in place
- Do: The school delivers the support
- Review: You and the school review whether it is working, then adjust
This cycle should repeat regularly, usually every term.
SEN Support is not a diagnosis or a label. It is a way of organising the extra help your child receives. Your child does not need a diagnosis to receive SEN Support. The school should provide it based on need.
What you should expect
If your child is on SEN Support, the school should provide:
- A written support plan: Sometimes called an IEP (Individual Education Plan), provision map, or SEN Support plan. It should set out your child's needs, the support being provided, and the expected outcomes.
- Regular reviews: At least termly, ideally with you present. The school should tell you what has worked, what has not, and what they plan to do next.
- Targeted interventions: Specific activities or programmes designed for your child's needs, not just general classroom adjustments.
- SENCO involvement: The school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator should be overseeing your child's support.
- Your involvement: You should be consulted about the plan and invited to reviews. Your views matter.
What SEN Support is not
SEN Support should not be:
- A label with no action behind it
- The school saying 'we are keeping an eye on them'
- Generic classroom differentiation that every child gets
- A reason to delay requesting an EHC needs assessment
If your child has been 'on SEN Support' for a long time and is still struggling, the support may not be enough. This could mean they need an EHC needs assessment.
What to do if the school is not providing proper SEN Support
Request a copy of your child's SEN Support plan or IEP. If there is no written plan, ask why not.
What interventions is my child receiving? How often? Who delivers them? What progress has been made? If the school cannot answer these questions, the support may not be structured enough.
If you are not satisfied, ask to meet the SENCO. Bring your concerns in writing and ask for a clear plan with measurable targets.
Follow up the meeting with an email summarising what was agreed. This creates a record.
If SEN Support is not enough, you may need to request an EHC needs assessment. The graduated approach is evidence. If it shows the school cannot meet your child's needs alone, that supports your case.
SpektraBot can help you write questions for the SENCO or draft a letter asking for a proper SEN Support plan. Ask: 'My child is on SEN Support but I do not know what that means in practice. Can you help me ask the right questions?'
The SEN register
Schools maintain a SEN register listing all children receiving SEN Support. If your child is on this register, the school has recognised that they need extra help. Ask the school to confirm whether your child is on the register. If they are not, and you believe they should be, raise it with the SENCO.
Try asking this question in a chat:
“My child is on SEN Support but I'm not sure what the school is actually doing. What should I ask?”