Guides

What do I do when…

Plain-English guides for the moments SEN parents dread. Your rights, the next steps and who can help, written by a parent who’s been there.

School and attendance

My child can’t get into schoolIf mornings have become a battle, or your child simply can’t get through the door, you are not failing and you are not alone. Here’s what the law says and what you can do next.We’ve been warned about a fineA warning letter about a fine can land like a punch, especially when your child is off because they’re struggling. Here are the rules, and what to do straight away.I’m asked to collect my child or keep them at homeThe phone call asking you to come and pick them up. If it’s happening again and again, it matters how it’s recorded.The part-time timetable is dragging onA reduced timetable can help for a short while. But weeks can quietly become months. Here’s what should be in place.School is asking for medical evidenceGetting a GP appointment just to prove your child was unwell isn’t realistic, and usually it isn’t needed.

EHC needs assessments and plans

I want to ask for an EHC needs assessmentYou don’t have to wait for school, and you don’t need a diagnosis. Parents can ask the council directly.The council said no to an assessment or a planA refusal is not the end. Many parents appeal, and many appeals succeed. The deadlines matter, so start now.The support in the EHCP isn’t happeningThe plan says one thing, the reality is another. That gap is the council’s responsibility to close.The EHCP annual review is coming upA review is your chance to make the plan fit your child as they are now. A little preparation goes a long way.

Being heard

School says my child is fine there“They’re fine here.” If you’ve heard it while picking up the pieces at home, you’ll know how lonely it feels. What you see is real.

These guides are general information about the law in England, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026. If something here looks out of date, please let me know.