Support at school, college or university
Your school will have a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) who can help you get the support you need. Your college or university should have a named person who makes sure anyone with SEND gets the help they need.
The SENCO or named person will:
- look at how you're getting on in the classroom
- agree a support plan with you
- make sure that you can still join in with the same activities that all other young people do
- ask you and your family to tell them how you're getting on with learning
If you need more support at school, college or university
If you need more support than your school, college or university can give you, you might need an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
An EHCP is a document that explains what educational, health and social needs you have and the support that they must provide for you while you're at school, college or university. This helps your teachers to support you in your learning.
Your preparing for adulthood outcomes should be a key part of every review you have from year 9 onwards.
How to ask for a needs assessment for an EHCP.
You already have an EHCP
If you already have an EHCP you should be discussing your plans for further or higher education during your regular reviews. These normally take place once a year and are sometimes called an annual review.
Find out about what should happen if you already have an EHCP.
How to ask for a school or college when you have an EHCP
You have the right to ask that a particular school or college is named in your EHCP.
If you have your draft EHCP you can use this letter template from the Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) to ask for a particular school.
When you get the draft EHCP you have a right to ask for any of these types of school or college:
- a maintained school; mainstream or special
- an academy; mainstream or special
- an institution in the further education sector
- a non-maintained special school
- an independent special school or college, section 41 school or college
Find out more information on the IPSEA website about what happens when you ask for a particular school or college.