SEN support is extra help your child gets at their nursery, school or college if they have special educational needs (SEN). Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs it. Help can include a special learning programme, an assistant, smaller group work or help with personal care. If your child needs more help than the school provides, they may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan. You can ask your council for an EHC needs assessment, and it must tell you within 16 weeks if it will make a plan. ## Different in Scotland and Wales Scotland uses an additional support for learning system. Wales uses an additional learning needs (ALN) system.

What is SEN support?

For parents who think their child needs extra help at nursery, school or college.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

SEN support is extra help your child gets at their nursery, school or college if they have special educational needs (SEN).

Talk to the teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO) if you think your child needs it.
Help can include a special learning programme, an assistant, smaller group work or help with personal care.
If your child needs more help than the school provides, they may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
You can ask your council for an EHC needs assessment, and it must tell you within 16 weeks if it will make a plan.

Different in Scotland and Wales

Scotland uses an additional support for learning system.
Wales uses an additional learning needs (ALN) system.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Given by the school, nursery or college
Ask the teacher or SENCO
EHC plan if more help is needed
EHC decision within 16 weeks

What SEN support is

SEN stands for special educational needs. SEND means special educational needs and disabilities. A child may have SEND if something makes learning harder for them. This could affect reading and writing, understanding, concentrating, behaviour, making friends, or physical ability.

SEN support is the help your child gets from their own nursery, school or college. You ask the setting for it, not a government office.

Who it is for

SEN support is for children and young people with SEND in England, from the early years up to further education. The help changes with age.

Age	What support can look like
Under 5	A written progress check at age 2, a health check by a health visitor at age 2 to 3, a written assessment in the summer of the first year at primary school, and reasonable adjustments for disabled children
5 to 15	A special learning programme, extra help from a teacher or assistant, smaller group work, being watched in class or at break, help taking part, help talking with other children, help with eating, moving around or using the toilet
16 and over in further education	The college and the council talk to your child about the help they need

Nurseries, playgroups and childminders registered with Ofsted follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. This sets out how they support children with SEND.

How to ask for SEN support

School age: talk to your child's teacher or the SEN co-ordinator (SENCO). The SENCO is the member of staff who organises SEN help.
Not at nursery yet: talk to a doctor or health adviser. They will tell you what help is available.
Starting college: contact the college before your child starts, to check it can meet their needs.
Not at any school: contact your local council.

When SEN support is not enough

Some children need more help than a school can give. They may need an education, health and care (EHC) plan. This is a plan for children and young people up to age 25. It sets out their education, health and social care needs, and the help to meet them.

You can ask your council for an EHC needs assessment. Young people aged 16 to 25 can ask for themselves. Teachers, doctors and health visitors can also ask.
The council must tell you within 16 weeks whether it will make a plan.
You get a draft plan and at least 15 days to comment.
The final plan must be ready within 20 weeks of the council getting the request.

If you disagree with the council and cannot sort it out, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. If your child has an EHC plan, you may also get a personal budget, which lets you have a say in how money for their support is spent.

Free help

Your local Information, Advice and Support (IAS) Service can give you advice about SEND.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The rules above are for England only. Different rules apply in the other nations. Scotland uses a system called additional support for learning. Wales uses a system called additional learning needs (ALN).

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Read the GOV.UK SEND guide

Common questions

Who decides if my child gets SEN support?

Start by talking to the teacher or SENCO, who works with you on what help your child needs at school.

What if SEN support is not enough?

You can ask your local council for an EHC needs assessment. It will tell you within 16 weeks whether it will make an EHC plan.

Can I appeal if the council says no to an EHC plan?

Yes. If you cannot sort it out with the council, you can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal.

Official sources

1.Children with SEND: special educational needs support (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/special-educational-needs-support
2.Children with special educational needs and disabilities (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs
3.Children with SEND: extra help and EHC plans (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help
4.Additional support for learning (gov.scot)www.gov.scot/policies/schools/additional-support-for-learning/
5.Additional learning needs (GOV.WALES)www.gov.wales/additional-learning-needs

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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