SEN Advice & Support

The 2015 SEND code of practice (Special educational needs and disabilities) identifies that there are four main areas of special educational needs. These are: 

1. Communication and interaction
2. Cognition and learning
3. Social, emotional and mental emotional health.
4. Sensory and/or physical

It is reported that Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is the most common special educational need. Other common needs include:

• ADHD
• Specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia and dyscalculia
• Speech, language and communication challenges
• Physical disabilities
• Social and emotional mental health challenges
• Sensory health services

SEN support is used within schools and educational facilities to find and support the needs of children and young people with SEN. 

When implemented, SEN support can provide individually tailored intervention to ensure that children and young people with SEN have equal access to education, promoting inclusion. SEN support often includes personalised teaching methods, assistive technologies, and collaboration between educators, SEN professionals and parents and carers. 

SEN support was previously named 'Early Years Action' and 'Early Years Action Plus', and 'School Action' and 'School Action Plus'.

Special needs education is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs. This involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, and accessible settings.

SEN schools are those that provide an education for children with a special educational need or disability. There are many different types of special school, but essentially, they all educate children whose needs cannot be met within a mainstream setting, and whose parents or carers have agreed to or requested a special school placement.

The Witherslack Group is a leading provider of specialist education and care for children and young people with SEN. We have a range of specialist SEN schools across the UK.

Witherslack SEN Resources

We have recently refreshed the advice and Support area of our website, a hub of knowledge we are very proud of. This section can now be filtered by our five specialist SEN areas of expertise:

Autism support
ADHD support
Speech, language and communication support
Mental health support
EHCP support

From events and webinars to articles, e-books and case studies, Here you can find a wide variety of resources providing parents, carers and professionals with advice, support and guidance.

External SEN Resources

The following is a list of websites and organisations that can help you. While we have done our best to list the most up to date and relevant information on SEN, please be advised that all the sources are constantly changing and new information will be added regularly so it is important to call back again if you need updated advice. Websites are listed alphabetically by name or narrow subject category.

Mencap SEN Support | Mencap 
Special Educational Needs (SEN) support | Scope
What SEND or additional needs support can my child’s school provide? | Action for Children
SEND information for parents and carers | Family Action
SEND: guide for parents and carers | GOV.UK