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Education and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

This section of the website covers the support system in England for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Each topic page is a clear, easy-to-use guide that answers key questions on what SEND is, what the Local Offer is, how the support system works in early years settings and schools, and in education and training for those over 16.

Education, health and care plans and challenging decisions, appeals and tribunals are covered, too.

There’s also an overview of the different systems in place in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The government are reviewing the SEND system. Changes are likely to come into effect in 2023.

Close up of a young girl wearing glasses, holding the outstretched hands of an adult.

What are special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?

This page tells you about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and special educational provision.

A young mixed race boy wearing glasses smiles at the camera.

Getting special educational needs support

This page explains the support your child can receive if they have special educational needs and disabilities, the things it depends on and what the Local Offer means.

SEND in England

Child with family support worker

SEND support for children under five

This page covers support for children under five with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in early years settings.

A woman and her son lie on the floor, reading a book. The mother, Sarah, is smiling. The boy, Harry, who has blue glasses and an orange t-shirt on, is concentrating on the book.

Support in schools for children aged 5-15

This page covers support for children aged 5-15 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in school.

Two young men smiling, one of them is wearing a blue baseball cap and the other a red teeshirt

Support for children over 16 in education or training

This page covers support in education or training for children aged 16 and over with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Challenging decisions, appeals and tribunals

This page tells you how to appeal against a decision if you’re not happy with some aspect of your child’s education, health and care needs assessment or plan.

Education, health and care plans

Find out how to get an EHC plan, what they look like, how long the process takes, and more.

Special educational needs around the UK

Additional learning needs in Wales

This page gives a brief overview of the additional learning needs system (ALN system), introduced in September 2021 and being phased in by the summer of 2024.

Special educational needs in Northern Ireland

This page covers special educational needs (SEN) support in Northern Ireland.

Additional support needs for learning in Scotland

This page gives a brief overview of the Education Act 2004 and the Supporting Children’s Learning: Code of Practice.

This content was last reviewed in April 2023. We’ll review it again next year.