What Does a SEND Diagnosis Mean for My Child?

If your child has been identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), you might be wondering what that means. It simply means they need some extra support beyond what's typically provided in the classroom – support that's tailored to their individual needs. This is not a limitation – it's recognition that your child learns differently and deserves the right support to thrive.

Your child's SEND needs will fall into one of four main areas:

• Communication and interaction difficulties
• Cognition and learning needs
• Social, emotional and mental health needs
• Sensory and/or physical needs

What Are the Next Steps?

Step 1: Understanding Your Child's Profile

We'll work with you to create a detailed profile of your child that includes:

• Their unique strengths and abilities
• Areas where they need extra support
• Specific strategies that will help them succeed

Step 2: The Support Cycle Begins

Your child will be supported through a four-part cycle called Assess-Plan-Do-Review:

• Assess: We evaluate your child's specific needs.
• Plan: We create targeted support strategies.
• Do: We implement the support in school.
• Review: We regularly check progress and adjust as needed.

Step 3: Ongoing Communication

You'll be kept informed every step of the way, with regular updates on your child's progress and opportunities to discuss any concerns.

Specialist Support

Our Specialist Resource Base: For children with autism or speech and language needs, we offer our purpose-built Specialist Resource Base (SRB) – a dedicated space within our inclusive school community. The SRB supports up to 12 children with Education, Health and Care Plans while keeping them connected to our wider school family.

Learn more about our Specialist Resource Base.

How to Access Support Right Now

A good first step is to talk to your child's class teacher. They know your child well and can often provide immediate support and reassurance about your concerns.

For specialist SEND support at school, contact our SEND team – Rebecca Earnshaw, our SENDCO, and Lisa Chester, Assistant SENDCO – at send@seftonparkschools.co.uk

For support beyond school, the Bristol Local Offer provides a comprehensive guide to all services available for children with SEND and their families in Bristol. This includes information about support available both in school and in the wider community.

Your Rights as a Parent

• You have the right to be fully involved in decisions about your child's support.
• If you have concerns about the support being provided, you can access our complaints procedure.
• You can request regular meetings to discuss your child's progress.
• You have access to all policies and reports about SEND provision at our school.

We're Here to Support You

At Sefton Park, we believe every child can thrive with the right support. A SEND identification is the beginning of getting your child exactly what they need to succeed, not a barrier to their potential.

Questions? Concerns? Want to talk? Please feel free to reach out to us – we're here to support both you and your child every step of the way.

For additional resources and more about our whole-school philosophy on supporting all learners, visit our Supporting SEND page.