Education support across the UK: find the right system and next step
When support is not working, the hardest part is often knowing which door to knock on. A school-support plan, a statutory education plan, a disability benefit and a social-care assessment are separate routes. An answer from one does not decide the others.

Start with the decision you need, then use the system for the UK nation in which your child is educated. England has EHC plans. Wales has IDPs. Scotland has CSPs for a narrower group of children who need co-ordinated support. Northern Ireland continues to use Statements of Special Educational Needs. The names are not interchangeable, and neither are the tests, timescales or appeal routes.
What this guide covers
- First, identify the decision you need
- Describe the need, not the conclusion
- England: SEN Support and EHC plans
- Wales: ALN and IDPs
Who it is for
For parents who need a fuller explanation of this subject and practical examples they can recognise in everyday life.
What membership adds
The full guide explains the subject in depth and brings the practical choices together in one place.
Related public topics
This overview and the linked topic pages are public. The complete guide is included with FamilyFX membership.
