Special Educational Needs (SEN)

What if you are worried that your child is having difficulties?

Information about Special Educational Needs.

What if you are worried that your child is having difficulties?

Early Years

Your child's early years are a very important time for their physical, emotional, intellectual and social development. When your health visitor or doctor makes a routine check, they might suggest that there could be a problem, but if you have any worries of your own, you should get advice straightaway. If your child is not yet at school or not yet going to an early education setting, you can talk to your doctor or health visitor who will be able to give you advice about the next steps to take.

Primary Schools

If you think your child may have a special educational need that has not been identified by the school or early education setting, you should talk to your child's class teacher, to the SENCO (this is the person in the school or preschool who has a particular responsibility for co-ordinating help for children with special educational needs) or to the head teacher straightaway.

Secondary Schools

If your child is in a secondary school, you should talk to the child's form teacher, SENCO, head of year or head teacher.

It is best to start with your child's teacher or the SENCO. You will be able to talk over your concerns and find out what the school thinks. The SENCO will be able to explain what happens next.

Working together with your child's teachers will often help to sort out worries and problems. All our schools do their best to support children with special needs, sometimes with the help of external specialists such as an Educational Psychologist or a teacher from the Specialist Inclusion Support Service (SISS).

Contact Details

Advice and further information can be obtained from the Inclusion and Access Team

Telephone: 0121-704 6690

Email: sen@solihull.gov.uk