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What the graduated approach means day to day is that professionals assess your child, plan what support they will need, give the support and then look at how well it’s worked.

Over months and years, the process is done again and again and each time your child’s progress and the support will be reviewed and changed if needed. As time goes on your child’s needs should become clearer and what approach works best for them will start to show. Everyone can then build on the approaches that work.

The SEND register is a list of pupils in school who have been identified as having Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).

Being on the register means your child may need additional or different support to help them learn and make progress. This support is provided in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2015), which guides how schools identify and support children with SEND.

What does it mean for my child?

If your child is on the SEND register:

• Their needs have been identified and assessed

• School will put in place extra support or adaptations (this is called ‘SEN Support’)

• Their progress will be carefully monitored and reviewed regularly

• You will be involved in discussions and decisions about their support

How are children added to the register?

Children are added when school identifies that they need support that is different from or additional to what is normally provided in the classroom. A child does not have to have a diagnosis in order to be added to the SEND register. This follows a graduated approach of:

Assess → Plan → Do → Review

Being on the SEND register is about making sure that your child gets the right support at the right time so they can thrive.

Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age

or

Have a disability which prevents or hinders then from making use of the facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in a mainstream school.

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document for children and young people who need more support than is provided through SEN Support.

It is issued by the local authority and sets out your child’s needs and the support they must receive.

What does an EHCP include?

An EHCP will describe:

• Your child’s strengths and needs

• The outcomes we are working towards

• The support and provision required to achieve those outcomes

• Any involvement from education, health and care professionals

• Support is usually more personalised and detailed

  
  

How is it reviewed?

EHCPs are reviewed at least once a year through an Annual Review.

Parents, school staff and other professionals will work together to:

• Look at your child’s progress

• Update targets and outcomes

• Make sure support is still appropriate

  
  

How is an EHCP different from a PLP?

A PLP (Personal Learning Plan) is used when a child is receiving SEN Support within school. It outlines targets and support that the school provides.

An EHCP is different because:

• It is a legal document issued by the local authority

• It is used when a child needs more support than can be provided through SEN Support alone.

• It may include input from health and care services, not just education

Both documents aim to support your child, but an EHCP provides a higher level of support for those who need it.

Once completed by both home and school, the form will be submitted by our SEND team or you may choose to pursue assessment through the NHS right to choose.

A Personal Learning Plan (PLP) is a document that outlines the extra support your child will receive in school to help them reach their full potential.

It focuses on your child’s individual needs, and sets out:

• The targets we are working on

• The support and strategies we are using to help

• How we review progress

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How often is it reviewed?

PLPs are reviewed every term to make sure the support in place is working well.

After each review, an updated copy will be sent home to you so you can see how your child is progressing.

How are parents involved?

We value your input. You will have opportunities to:

• Discuss your child’s PLP at SEND parents’ meetings

• Share your views and contribute to targets and support

• Work in partnership with school to support your child

Right to Choose is an NHS option that allows parents to choose which provider carries out their child’s assessment after a GP referral.

This means that instead of being seen by your local NHS service, you may be able to choose a different NHS‑funded provider, sometimes with shorter waiting times.

Key points

• It applies when a GP makes a referral for an assessment (for example ADHD or autism)

• You can choose a provider that is approved and funded by the NHS

• The assessment is still free through the NHS

• Families need to request this through their GP