How a SENCO could help your child

‘If either you or the teacher has a concern about your child, the SENCO will go into the class to observe them and advise on what the next steps should be in terms of whether support is needed, and what that might involve,’ explains Carmel McDermott, SEN parent adviser at Contact a Family (helpline 0808 808 3555). The SENCO is there to work not just with children who have physical or learning difficulties, but also those with emotional or behavioural problems, or who need some short-term support, for example in coping with a bereavement.

If the SENCO feels your child would benefit from external support, she can make a referral to professionals such as a speech and language therapist or occupational therapist. ‘She will also be involved in meetings with these professionals, both during the diagnostic process and on an on-going basis,’ adds Carmel.

'Once a child’s concerns have been identified, the SENCO, in consultation with the class teacher, should put together an individual SEN support plan which should then be shared with the parents,’ says Carmel. This sets out your child’s learning targets, who will support him or her and how, what resources and methods will be used, how your child’s progress and achievements will be monitored and how you can help as a parent.

Either you or the school may request an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for your child. This is a detailed investigation into your child’s special educational needs and is carried out by the local authority. If the local authority decides that the school can’t meet your child’s needs from its own resources, your child will be given an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which sets out your child’s needs and what additional help they require.

‘During the assessment process, the local authority will ask the parents, the school and any professionals involved to produce a report about the child’s difficulties, and in most cases, the SENCO will write the report on behalf of the school,’ Carmel explains. ‘She will also be involved in explaining the process to you and liaising with you throughout.’

The SENCO plays a vital role in supporting your child’s teacher to ensure that their educational needs are met. ‘The SENCO will often help the teacher with their planning to ensure that the teaching is accessible to your child, give advice on how they can improve their practices and suggest resources and activities that could support their learning,’ says Carmel. ‘The SENCO can also deliver additional training to teachers, or arrange external training if appropriate.’

Many people are involved in the education and support of a child with special educational needs: the class teacher, the SENCO, parents and other professionals. ‘The SENCO should be involved in any meetings with these people to ensure that everyone is coordinated in how they support the child,’ Carmel says.

For some children with special educational needs, resources – ranging from flashcards to laptops – can make a big difference to their learning. ‘The SENCO will be involved in the provision of those resources, and will liaise with the necessary people if there’s a financial implication,’ Carmel explains.

‘A child’s SEN support plan should contain SMART targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time sensitive,’ says Carmel. ‘These targets should be reviewed regularly in a meeting with the SENCO, teacher, parents and professionals, usually once a term.’

Having a child with special needs can be highly emotive, and feelings often run high if things are going badly at school. Remember, the SENCO is there to support you and your child, and to be an advocate for you both. ‘If something is niggling, it’s always best to talk to the SENCO sooner rather than later,’ adds Carmel.

Read our parents' guide to building a great working relationship with your child's SENCO.