FamilyFX: The Family Reset System
Local support in England

SEND support in England: who does what and where to start

In England, support usually begins with the nursery, school or college. Your council and local NHS services become involved when a child needs help beyond what the setting can provide.

Sources checked 14 August 2026Next review 14 August 2027
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How support is organised in England

If your child is finding learning, attendance, communication, sensory demands or everyday school life difficult, you do not have to wait for an Education, Health and Care plan before asking for help. Schools and colleges can provide SEN support, agree adjustments and use an assess, plan, do, review cycle to understand what is helping.

The useful first question is not simply whether your child has a diagnosis. It is what they find difficult, what support has been tried and what difference that support made. Keeping a short record of examples, meetings and agreed actions makes later conversations clearer.

The education setting is usually responsible for day-to-day SEN support. The local council publishes a SEND Local Offer, carries out EHC needs assessments and has responsibilities across education and social care. Health support may come through a GP, community service, NHS trust or the local integrated care system, depending on the need and area.

Every local authority area also has an information, advice and support service for children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers. It is separate from the team making decisions about an EHC needs assessment and can help you understand processes, prepare for meetings and consider what to do when you disagree with a decision.

Provision varies between council and NHS areas. Use the national guidance here to understand the framework, then use your council's Local Offer and local service pages for the current route where you live.

Urgent help

Urgent health and mental health help in England

Use NHS 111 when you need urgent help but it is not a life-threatening emergency. Call 999 in an emergency.

Visit Urgent health and mental health help in England

National organisations and independent advice

Department for Education SEND guidance

Use the national guidance to understand SEN support and EHC plans, then use your council’s Local Offer for local contacts.

Visit website

Information, Advice and Support Services Network

Find the impartial SEND advice service for your local authority area.

Visit website

NHS England

Use current NHS guidance for urgent health or mental health help in England.

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National guidance and support

SEN support and EHC plan guidance

Department for Education SEND guidance

Official guidance explaining SEN support in education and when an EHC plan may be needed.

Who it is for: Children and young people in England who have or may have special educational needs.

How to access it: Begin with the education setting. Use the council route for an EHC needs assessment or Local Offer information.

Check current details

Find your local SEND information, advice and support service

Information, Advice and Support Services Network

Find the impartial SEND advice service for your local authority area.

Who it is for: Children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers in England.

How to access it: Choose your local authority in the Council for Disabled Children directory and contact the listed service directly.

Check current details

Practical next steps

Start with the person who can act now. In school, this is often the class teacher, form tutor or SENCO. Describe the barrier in concrete terms, ask what support will be put in place and agree when it will be reviewed.

If the setting cannot meet the need through SEN support, ask what evidence is being gathered and whether an EHC needs assessment should be considered. You can also contact your local information, advice and support service yourself. For health concerns, speak to the GP or the professional already involved and ask which local pathway applies.

Before a meeting, write down the two or three outcomes that matter most. Afterwards, confirm the decisions, named actions and review date in writing. This creates a useful record without turning family life into a filing exercise.

Related FamilyFX help

Library articleWhat Is Sen Support And The Graduated ApproachUnderstand what schools can do before an EHC plan.Library articleHow To Request An Ehc Needs AssessmentPrepare a clear, evidence-based request.Library articleSend Duties Of Schools And Councils EnglandSee how school and council responsibilities differ.

Sources and checking dates

Local services change. We check the sources below and review any substantive change before altering the page.