Help and advice articles

Alternative Schools

Alternative schools

Alternative schools – sometimes known as progressive schools - offer an unconventional approach to education. They suit parents who consider traditional schooling a straightjacket and children who don’t flourish in more traditional settings.

Why alternative schools?

As parents we are never quite sure if we are doing this right. There are no guidebooks to bringing up children and when it comes to schooling, there is nothing more likely to cause sleepless nights. So much emphasis is put on education that as a parent you feel you just have to get it right…but how do you find the right fit for your child?

With ever-increasing emphasis on exam results, it takes a brave parent to step off the mainstream carousel of fact cramming, regular homework and testing. If you are the sort of tiger parent who has already, in your mind’s eye, seen your child off to Oxbridge, alternative schooling probably isn’t for you. But one ‘alternative’ parent described it as a refuge from mainstream education where children are ‘criticised and their self-esteem damaged…like workers in a factory’. Read more

Types of alternative education

Forest schools

Forest schools aren’t actual physical schools. Instead, they refer to regular outdoor sessions, mostly at nursery or primary school level, in natural environments to enable children to develop confidence through hands-on learning.

Home schooling in the UK

First, the myths. Home schooling isn’t illegal in the UK (though it is in some other countries such as Germany).

Nor is it deviant or something undertaken only by weirdos whose extreme religious or dietary views put them at odds with society. You’ll definitely encounter a few distinctly quirky perspectives among home educating parents, but probably no more so than in any other community defending strongly held views that set it apart from the mainstream.

Montessori schools

Creativity and exploration – this ethos puts children firmly at the centre of society. Philosophy:  Based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. Background: Pioneered by Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female doctor in 1907 to educate the poor in Italy. To the uninitiated, Montessori methods may seem like a free-for-all. Homework, testing and exams are seldom found. Montessori found that children learn best by doing ‘The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self. A child works in order to grow, and is working to create the adult, the person that is to be.’ - Maria Montessori.

Steiner-Waldorf schools in the UK

Overview:  Steiner Waldorf aims to provide an unhurried and creative learning environment in harmony with different phases of a child’s development. Background: In 1919, Austrian philosopher and scientist, Rudolf Steiner, whose ideas founded the basis of Anthroposophy, began a school in Stuttgart for children of the workers at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory. This inspired a worldwide movement of schools.

The 'alternative' alternatives

If you thought Steiner and Montessori schools were ‘alternative’, then take a look at The Guide’s ultimate alternative schools, so far removed from a traditional set up that some of them are world renowned. Categorised as ‘learning for life’, these schools take traditional schooling and turn it on its head. There are literally a handful scattered through the UK. Think Sands School in Devon, Brockwood Park and Summerhill. They are one of a kind and completely individual.

Grammar Schools

Grammar school admissions

State grammar schools select pupils by ability. Children are usually tested in the final year of primary school (aged 10/11), by an exam commonly known as the 11+, (see Understanding the 11+). A few schools test for entry at 13+, and many re-open their books at 16+. Some grammar schools now give preference to qualifying children on Pupil Premium. Read more

Grammar school appeals

Your child has passed the 11+, but has not been offered a grammar school place. Or perhaps your child has narrowly missed the required mark or has not performed as expected in the tests. What can you do? Unfortunately passing the 11+ does not always guarantee you a place at a grammar school. Some will select by the highest score, others by proximity to the school. Every year a substantial number of grammar ability children are not offered a grammar school place on National Offer Day. If this has happened to your child you will, understandably, feel both disappointed and, probably, that the system is unfair. Read more

Grammar schools best value added

We examined the value-added from KS2 to GCSE for 2022 to see which state selective grammar schools added the most value to their offspring. A note of caution - the more highly selective a grammar school, the less scope there will be to add value.

Grammar schools in the UK

Grammar schools are state-funded, academically selective senior schools. The education a child receives at grammar school is paid for by the state unlike at private schools which provide education for a fee. There are currently around 163 located in 36 English local authorities, with around 167,000 pupils between them. Northern Ireland has a further 67 grammar schools, but there are none in Wales or Scotland. A word of caution: there are private schools that have the word 'grammar' in their name but this is purely for historical reasons. 

State grammar school local authorities

State grammar schools are located in 38 UK local authorities, including Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Kingston upon Thames See complete list

Independent Schools

Applying to a selective private school

A place at an academically selective private senior school is the holy grail for many parents. These schools know how to get the most from pupils and open doors to leading universities but the admissions process are complex and must be successfully navigated before the offer of a place lands in your inbox.

Boarding prep schools: what you need to know

Nearly all boarding preps go up to age 13 (year 8) because they prepare pupils for senior boarding schools that start in year 9. The majority of pupils at these prep schools start ‘proper’ boarding at around age 11 although some may have tried it out previously via flexi boarding or doing the occasional ‘taster’ night. A few prep schools admit boarders under 10 and make special provision for them with bedrooms that look much closer to how things are at home and, because numbers are small, a regime that is flexible.

Boarding school for the sixth form

It’s quite common for young people to want a change of scene after GCSEs and some may choose to move to a school where they can board for their last two years. We visit many schools where there are more boarders in the sixth form than lower down the school – largely because 16- to 18-year-olds are keen to concentrate on their studies, socialise with their friends in their spare time and get a taste of living away from home prior to university.

Choir schools explained

A choir school is a school attached to a Christian cathedral, major church or college chapel and educates the girl and boy choristers who sing at services. Nearly all choir schools (Westminster Abbey is the exception) also take children who are not interested in becoming choristers, in fact, the choristers are usually in the minority but the presence of a professional choir and the close relationship with ancient religious foundations means that these schools are unique and provide an unusual educational experience. 

Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is an independent inspectorate appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) to inspect schools that are members of the associations that make up the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

Prep and pre-prep schools: what do I need to know?

As their name suggests, the main aim of ‘preparatory schools’, or prep schools, is to prepare children for entry to fee-paying senior schools at 11 or 13. Traditionally, pre-preps take children from 3 or 4 and prepare them for moving on to preps at 7 or 8. There are fewer stand-alone pre-preps than there used to be as their main market, the boarding prep, has declined in numbers.

Preparing your child for private school interviews

While state schools are prohibited from interviewing any but potential sixth form students, the interview is an integral part of nearly every private school admissions process, and tends to send the applicant’s parents, rather than the actual applicant, into a spin. Parents feel considerably more responsible for their child’s social presentation than for his or her ability to do long division or conjugate French verbs.

Private school fees explained: what are you paying for?

Rewind a few decades and the general position on private school fees was, 'if you have to ask how much, you probably can’t afford it.' Even The Good Schools Guide didn’t publish them in early editions.

Private school scholarships and bursaries

Private schools offer scholarships and bursaries in order to attract talented pupils and to make a place affordable for those families unable to pay fees.

Private schools in the UK

Left scratching your head about the difference between public school, private school and independent school? And where on earth prep schools and boarding schools fit into the picture? Fear not – our at a glance guide will set you straight:

Independent Schools further reading

Registration fees and deposits explained

Every private school sets its own admissions procedure. But while there is no fixed model, most schools ask parents to part with considerable sums of money – some refundable, some not - at certain points of the admissions journey.

You may find you’re asked to pay more than you expected and that the sums quickly add up especially if you’re applying to more than one school.

What type of boarding - full, weekly or flexi?

If you’re reading this you’ve probably already decided that boarding might suit your son or daughter. If so the next step is to consider the arrangement that best suits your family. Unlike the old days, when youngsters were packed off to school at the age of 7 or 8 and didn’t see home again until the end of term, today’s boarding schools offer parents a choice of full boarding, weekly boarding, flexi boarding or even a combination of these. For instance, flexi boarders may wish to weekly board during exam times or become full boarders in the sixth form.

Nursery Schools

Childcare choices for under 5s

What type of childcare suits your family best? We’ve not met a parent who has done birth to school without some form of help. Everyone needs a new perspective on – or a break from - their children at some point in those 5 years. Children also need interaction and to form attachments with those other than their parents for their well-being. Read more

Nurseries and early years – your questions answered

All work and no play? All play and no work? Or something inbetween? Whatever you choose, think safety first. Nursery / early years education should be an exciting, important, formative part of your child's development but finding what's ideal for your child isn't always easy.  Read more

Nursery schools – finding the right one

The right preschool setting will be one in which your child can thrive, flourish and develop - socially, cognitively, emotionally, physically. But there are no hard and fast rules about which ones are best, so try not to have too many preconceived ideas and explore all options so you make the right decision for you. Read more

State Schools

A guide to state schools

In the UK, a state school provides a free education for children aged between 4 and 18. State schools are government-funded, paid for by taxes, and every child in the country is entitled to a place. 

Faith schools in the UK

From assemblies on Diwali to collecting food for Harvest Festival, religion plays a role in all UK schools, teaching children about different cultures, beliefs and the world around them. Faith schools make religion a bigger focal point of school life and their reputation for strong communities, traditional principles and positive academic results make them an attractive prospect for many families on the hunt for a good state school.

Primary school admissions

You must apply through your local authority for a place at a primary school, even if it’s linked to your child’s current nursery. Normal primary school admissions are at 4+ into the reception class. Applications open on different days in each local council area - usually at the start of the autumn term of the year before your child is due to start school. Check your local authority website for details of the catchment area for primary schools nearby, faith requirements and key dates.

Primary schools – top tips when applying

Parents of children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 have until 15 January 2024 to apply for a primary school place for the academic year starting in September 2024. Having advised parents of school applications for more than 35 years, The Good Schools Guide recommends the following read more

School appeals – do I stand a chance?

Can I appeal my child's secondary school offer? You have a legal right to appeal to any school named on your original preference form. This will come as a huge relief to those still suffering from the shock of receiving an offer for ‘Unpopular Academy’ instead of the high-flying secondary school you preferred. But it’s vital to have a back-up plan alongside the appeals process.

Secondary school admissions

For a place at secondary school, you must apply through your local authority, even if it’s linked to your child’s current primary school. Normal secondary school admissions are at 11+ into year 7. Applications open on different days in each local council area - usually at the start of the autumn term of year 6, though for most grammar schools you will need to register for the entrance test during the summer term of year 5.

Secondary schools – top tips when applying

The Good Schools Guide has been helping parents choose the right school for their children for more than 30 years. Here are our top tips and pitfalls to avoid on your secondary school application, which is due to land with your local authority by 31 October.

State boarding schools

If you think your child would benefit from a boarding school education, but are put off by the high fees and consequent limited social mix of a typical independent boarding school, you may find that a state boarding school is the answer. Read more...

State grammar schools

Counties such as Kent or Buckinghamshire are ‘selective authorities’ and most families will have at least one grammar school close to where they live. Elsewhere, for example in Reading or Kingston-on-Thames, there are just one or two grammar schools and competition for places at these is ferocious. Grammar schools are located in 36 English local authorities. Read more...

Further reading

Northern Ireland Education System The education system in Northern Ireland has some important differences to the one in England and Wales. Whilst the school year also starts in September, the child’s age on 1 July (rather than 1 September, as in England and Wales) determines when they start school and what school year they are in. As elsewhere, children start primary school at 4+ and move on to secondary school at 11+.

Scottish Education System The education system in Scotland is completely different from the rest of the UK. It is based on the Curriculum for Excellence which covers education from 3-18 years old. Children in Scotland usually start primary school in mid to late August when they are aged between four-and-a-half and five-and-a-half years old. Your child will be at primary school for seven years (p1-p7) before progressing to secondary school around the age of 11/12.

Catchment area cheat Pressure for places in the UK’s best state schools is intensifying with state grammar schools leading the way. Popular schools see upwards of 10 applicants for every place. In 2014, almost half of children in some areas have been rejected from their preferred secondary school. Catchment areas are already shrinking as parents who had planned on private schooling join the battle for places in the best state schools.

Inspection reports from Ofsted As with most reports, there’s a code to decipher and a few questions to ask. The local school gets a glowing report, yet you know half the population are banned from the shopping centre. Puzzling? So just what do inspection reports tell us and have they any value? The answers are lots, and yes, if you know how to read them.

Understanding the British school system Normal primary school admissions are at 3+ into the nursery or 4+ into the reception class. Some are divided into infant and junior schools, the latter starting at 7 years. Most secondary schools start at 11. For a normal application, you will need to apply – with a local address - by around mid-January for primary schools and the end of October of the year before entry for secondary schools.

When to put your child’s name down for a school A handful of schools literally demand that you apply for a place as soon as your child is born, which means it’s never too early to start planning your child’s education. In fact, it’s a process that can start even before you’ve conceived – and that goes for all parents, wherever they want their offspring to go to school.

Help and Advice

7 ways apps can help children with autism

There are thousands of apps claiming to help children and young people with autism, but which are any good? We have narrowed down the field and give you our favourites.

Apps for Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Specific Learning Difficulties

Apps can be a handy way to encourage struggling readers and to help children with writing difficulties. But which to choose? We highlight some of the best on the market for dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Apps for mental health

Apps can be a useful tool for children to deal with bullying or anxiety, or to disclose their concerns when they are unable to do so face-to-face. We look at what's available.

Autism in girls

Girls typically present with more subtle traits of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), less associated with the traditional asocial model, but still presenting challenges to their development and interaction. 

Autism Treatments

From ABA to Zones of Regulation, therapy programmes for autistic children can be confusing. It is important to understand the approach and to check that the programme you are being sold is based on scientifically proven evidence.  

Clothing for special needs

Getting dressed can be a battleground when your child has special needs. But the good news is that retailers are waking up to this, with growing numbers of innovative options.

Clubs and activities for children with SEN

Finding something they love to do after school or in the holidays, can help children with special needs to see that we’re all good at different things and that we all have weaknesses.

Fear of needles

Injections are a necessary part of life for children but needlephobia is far more common in children with learning disabilities, especially Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Flying with children with special needs

Travel with a special needs child can be fraught and stressful. And airports can be guaranteed to set your holiday off on the wrong foot. We've asked the UK's airports to tell us how they can help families with SEN and disabled children.

Getting an educational psychologist assessment

An assessment by an educational psychologist will help a school understand how best they can help a child with special educational needs. The EP may also recommend a referral to other professionals such as a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, optometrist or a paediatrician, as well as sources of help such as the child and family consultation services.

Holidays with an SEN child

Our tips on everything from pre-holiday planning to days on the beach, which make the experience less stressful.

How to identify Special Educational Needs in your child

Some special needs are easy to spot, others are only determined once a child has experienced personal difficulties or academic problems.

Identifying and dealing with PDA

The signs of PDA, and strategies for dealing with it at home and at school.

Learning Centres

Learning Centres can be an ideal halfway house for children struggling with maths or literacy. They can offer intensive help for part of the day, whilst enabling children to spend the rest of the time in their mainstream school. 

Makaton

Makaton is a unique sign language using symbols, signs and speech. It helps develop essential communication skills including attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.

Mental health problems in adolescents

If you are worried about your teenager's mental health you won't be in the minority. One in ten adolescents suffers from a recognised mental health issue, and one in three reports feeling sad or down more than once a week. What can you and the school do to help?

Puberty: How to prepare girls with special needs

How do you teach a girl with special needs about puberty, and how to manage periods when she is at school?

Revision tips for children with ADHD

The key to helping teenagers with ADHD to revise for their GCSE exams is to understand how their very special brains work. Once you know this, you can help them with strategies.

SEN professionals

A number of key personnel can advise, assess and treat your child, as well as give them the best possible chances to realise their potential

Siblings of special needs children

Professionals agree that siblings of disabled children can suffer emotional, psychological and social impacts but anecdotal evidence suggests it’s not all negative.

Social Stories

Everyday events such as haircuts and trips to the dentist can be terrifying for a child with special needs. How can you use social stories to prepare children and prevent meltdowns and anxiety? 

Toilet training children with autism

Trying to toilet train a child with autism or other SEN can be immensely stressful, and it can take much longer than usual. We look at the impact of sensory and social communication difficulties, and offer some practical tips.

University for students with special needs

University admission departments are keen to encourage applications from pupils with special needs and disabilities, and have well-established systems for putting support in place. We look at how to find the university which will work best for you, and what financial and other support you can expect.

Schools and SEN

Adoption and schools

Adopted children are much more likely than other children to have experienced abuse and neglect, and the impact of this difficult start in life does not disappear when children join loving permanent families.

Choosing a school for special needs

When a child has any form of special needs, in particular when they have autism, the first priority needs to be whether the school can support your child’s needs. 

Classroom help for children with special needs

Children with SEN may need additional help in the classroom. So what help are you entitled to, how can you make sure you get it and is there anything else you can do?

Mainstream schools for special needs

Many parents of children with special needs want their child to remain in the mainstream system. So how can you make sure it’s the best school for them and that it delivers on any extra provision required?

Moving on to Secondary School

At the beginning of March each year, state secondary school places are announced and parents prepare excitedly for the move to ‘big’ school. For a parent of a SEND child, the next step is far from easy.

Nurseries for special needs

The first day at nursery is a milestone for any child, but even more so for those with SEN whose parents are often more anxious and wobbly than the child.

Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)

A SENCo, or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, is the school teacher who is responsible for assessing, planning and monitoring the progress of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Special schools

What matters to your child with special needs or learning difficulties is finding the school that best suits them as an individual and will give them the best chances in life.

Starting a new school: When your child has SEN

Starting a new school is a big deal for all children, but for children with special needs – and their parents - it can be more frightening than exciting.

Teaching Assistants

Most primary or junior schools have teaching assistants (TAs) who work alongside teachers to help with the whole class. Some TAs support individual children with special educational needs.

When is it best to go specialist for SpLD?

If your child has specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia it can be a dilemma whether to place your child in mainstream or specialist education. How do you decide which is the best type of school for your child?

Types of SEN

Anxiety and Emotionally Based School Avoidance

Anxiety is a feeling of stress, fear or panic which can affect a person’s life in both physical and psychological ways. All children will experience some anxiety, e.g. about trying new foods, separating from parents or moving schools but untreated anxiety in children can result in extreme forms of avoidance, panic attacks and self-harm. 

Anxiety in Autism

Anxiety is common in Autism, with 40-50 per cent of autistic people thought to have a severe level of anxiety on a regular basis. Anxiety is a feeling of unease, which may present as worry, restlessness, fast heartbeat or breathing, hot flushes, even panic attacks

Attachment disorder

Attachment Disorder (AD) arises when an infant or child under the age of five suffers an early life trauma and then fails to form normal loving relationships with their primary carers.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)

ADHD is a behavioural disorder characterised by inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. It may occur without the hyperactive element and is then described as ADD.

Auditory processing difficulties

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a condition in which the brain does not process sounds in the normal way. APD can affect people of all ages, but often starts in childhood.

Autism

Autism, or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) - is a lifelong condition affecting how people communicate and interact with others and how they relate to the world about them. 

Challenging behaviour

Challenging behaviour is conduct that is either a challenge for others to manage and/or puts the young person at risk.

Dual or multiple exceptionality (DME)

Dual or Multiple Exceptionality (DME) occurs when a child experiences high learning potential alongside a special educational need because of a learning difficulty or disability.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty affecting the normal acquisition of arithmetic skills. It usually co-occurs with other specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a common name given to Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties affecting writing. Unlike dyspraxia which can affect either gross motor or fine motor skills, it affects fine motor skills.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling. It is a Specific Learning Difficulty and there are recognised overlaps with other conditions. 

Dyspraxia

Is your child's room a nightmare? Are you always buying plasters? Do you have trouble deciphering what they’ve written? Your child may have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) known as Development Co-ordination Difficulty (DCD), often referred to as dyspraxia.

Eating disorders

For some children and young adults, it is not the lesson times that cause most anxiety at school, but the lunch. When your child has an eating disorder, learning comes second place to battling with food. 

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which affects the brain and is marked by the tendency to have recurrent seizures.

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the umbrella term for a range of defects thought to be a direct result of the mother drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Fragile X

Children with Fragile X may be developmentally delayed and experience learning and behavioural difficulties. Fragile X is the second most commonly occurring inherited condition after Down’s syndrome.

Gender dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity. The prefix ‘trans’ is often applied to people who have acted on their gender dysphoria and have taken steps to live as a member of the opposite sex. Most such people prefer the prefix to be kept separate from the noun, eg “trans woman”.

Genetic disorders

A look at genetic disorders: Down's syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Williams syndrome, Rett syndrome. Down’s syndrome is a chromosomal disorder. About 600 babies with the condition are born in the UK each year. Diagnosis is confirmed via a blood test called a chromosomal karyotype.

Global Developmental Delay

Global developmental delay is a term used for a pre-school age child who has difficulty in two or more areas of development. It may be a cognitive, communication, physical or social/emotional delay. The child is making progress at a slower rate than their peers and their progress may be uncertain.

Learning difficulties

A child with a learning difficulty or a learning disability will struggle to acquire new information, they may need help with independence and understanding complex ideas. No two people with learning difficulties are the same. 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) experiences obsessive recurrent thoughts or images which disturb them and make them anxious. To relieve these unpleasant feelings, they may feel obliged to carry out repetitive behaviours.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

All children disagree with their parents or teachers from time to time, but ODD isn’t a temporary phase. It involves extreme long-lasting, aggressive and defiant behaviour, often to people in authority.

Selective mutism

The term selective mutism describes the behaviour of children who are able to speak but remain silent with certain people or in certain settings. It is a form of social anxiety.

Self-harm

Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. It's usually a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. Self-harm is particularly prevalent among young people with SEN.

Sensory Processing Difficulties

Sensory Processing Difficulties (SPD) happen when a person’s brain has trouble receiving and interpreting messages from their senses.

Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)

Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) is a name given to a range of conditions including dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia and can be linked to other conditions such as speech and language disorders and ADHD.

Speech and language difficulties (Sp&LD)

When a child is noticeably behind their peers in acquiring speech and/or language skills, communication is considered delayed. This is referred to as Speech and Language Difficulties (Sp&LD) or Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).

Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) usually starts in childhood, around the age of 7. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome are usually facial tics such as rapid blinking or twitches of the mouth, but TS may start with sounds such as throat clearing and sniffing, or even with multiple tics of movement and sounds.

Visual Impairment (VI) and Hearing Impairment (HI)

Visual Impairment (VI) and Hearing Impairment (HI) in childhood include sight and hearing difficulties and sometimes a combination of both (known as multi-sensory impairments).

Your rights

Adjustments for pupils with SEN: What is reasonable?

Under the Equality Act, schools are required to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that all children can access their facilities and services. Yet parents often find themselves faced with an additional bill for such provision.

EHCP and School Admissions

When a child has an EHCP, a parent can name the school of their choice which gives them priority over many other applicants. 

EHCPs and how my child can get one

Confused by EHC Needs Assessments, EHC Plans and how they relate to school admissions? We have advice for you.

Exam access arrangements

Exam Access Arrangements (EAAs) are the reasonable adjustments that can be made for an exam candidate and might include things like extra time to complete an exam paper, permission to use assistive technology, or provision of rest breaks.

Flexible working - your rights

If your child has special needs, you are likely to need more time off work than others. The good news is you have the right to request flexible working.

Getting SEN funding for an independent mainstream school

In order to get a placement for their child at an independent mainstream school funded by a local authority (LA), parents have to get an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

School exclusions: pupils with special educational needs/disabilities

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are disproportionately likely to be excluded from school; they account for almost two-thirds of all exclusions. What are your rights?

SEN Support without an EHCP

Children with special education needs (SEND) who don't have an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) should have provision made for them in school through ‘SEN Support'.