SEND support

What special educational needs and disabilities means

Find out about what special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) means and the legal definition.

Health checks to find out if your child needs extra help

Scans, checks and reviews can find out if your baby has a health condition, special educational needs or a disability.

Get help if you’re worried about your child’s development or learning

Contact your child's nursery, playgroup, childminder, school, college or Amaze, our local Information, Advice and Support service.

Get support with health

Find GPs, dentists, pharmacies, mental health support, charities and centres for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Get social care support with special educational needs and disabilities

How to get support provided by our council, called social care, for children and young people 0 to 25 years old.

Check if your child can get an education, health and care (EHC) plan

Most children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities get the support they need from their childcare provider, school or college without an EHC plan.

Ask for an education, health and care (EHC) assessment

What is an education, health and care (EHC) plan, who can ask for an education, health and care (EHC) assessment how the process works.

Get help with special educational needs or disabilities outside Brighton & Hove

Find support in East Sussex and West Sussex for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.

How schools and colleges support children and young people

Schools will work with you and your child to provide support with their special educational needs or disabilities.

How early years and childcare providers support children

Nurseries, playgroups and childminders can provide advice and work with you and your child to provide support with their special educational needs or disabilities.

What the law says about support for children with special educational needs and disabilities

Codes of practice, acts and legislation that explains how children with difficulties should be supported and what their rights are.

How health professionals support children and young people with SEND

Who’s involved in providing support and care, and how health professionals can help you and your child.

Short breaks for families

Find out about short breaks (respite care) for children with SEND.

Occupational therapy for children and young people

There are two different occupational therapy services available to children and young people in Brighton & Hove.

Short breaks for all families of children with SEND

Short breaks services for all families of children with SEND available without an assessment.

Overnight stays, home sitting and outreach services

Short breaks services for families of children with SEND that require an assessment from a social worker.

Children's occupational therapy (health)

Our health occupational therapy service works with children and young people to help develop or increase the skills they need to use in their everyday lives.

Children's occupational therapy (social care)

The social care occupational therapy service aims to enhance children's abilities and independence at home.

The graduated approach to supporting children with SEND

Schools and colleges use the Assess, Plan, Do, Review process to support your child, also known as the graduated approach.

Special educational needs and disabilities

Support for children who have special educational needs and disabilities, and their families. We call this our Local Offer.

Tell us you’re moving and your child has SEND

Who to contact if you’re moving house and your child has special educational needs or disabilities.

Help with transport for children and young people with SEND

You may be able to get free transport to school, bus passes and discounts, free parking and taxi vouchers to help you get around.

Get help for a child with SEND

What's on offer locally for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) .

Get help as a parent carer

Groups and courses can be great ways to meet other parents and swap tips, and share resources. Find advice and information on our Local Offer.

Get help as a young person

Find information, advice and support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Get help for children and young people who have social communication difficulties

If a child or young person does not attend school, or finds it very difficult to attend school full time because they have social communication difficulties, they could get support. We call this support our social communication resource.