Finding the right support for a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can feel complicated, particularly when a parent is unsure whether to approach the school, GP, council or another service first. In Ealing, families have access to several routes depending on the child’s age, needs and current education setting.
SEND can include difficulties with learning, communication, concentration, social interaction, behaviour, physical development or sensory needs. A formal diagnosis is not always the starting point for educational support. GOV.UK explains that parents who think their child may have special educational needs should usually speak to the child’s teacher or Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) if the child attends a school or nursery.
Ealing also has a Local Offer covering education, health, social care, family support, short breaks, travel assistance and preparation for adulthood for children and young people aged 0 to 25.
What Does SEND Support Mean in Ealing?
SEND support is not one single service. It can range from additional help within a mainstream classroom to specialist educational, health or social care provision.
A child might need extra help with reading, writing, communication, concentration, social interaction or physical access. For example, a pupil struggling to process written instructions might need information presented differently, while another child may need support with communication, sensory regulation or participation in classroom activities.
GOV.UK distinguishes between SEN support provided by an education setting and an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan for children and young people who need more support than their setting can ordinarily provide.
This distinction is important because parents do not necessarily need to begin by requesting an EHCP. In many situations, the first step is to discuss the child’s difficulties with the school or nursery and understand what support can be provided.
Start by Speaking to the SENCO
If your child attends a school or nursery in Ealing, the SENCO is usually one of the most important people to contact.
The SENCO coordinates SEND provision within the education setting and can discuss concerns with parents, teachers and other professionals. National guidance confirms that mainstream schools must have a SENCO.
A parent might arrange a meeting if a child is falling behind academically, finding communication difficult, struggling with social situations, experiencing persistent concentration problems or requiring adjustments because of a disability.
It is useful to describe what you observe rather than focusing only on a possible diagnosis.
For example, instead of saying that a child simply “cannot cope at school”, a parent could explain that the child becomes distressed when classroom instructions contain several steps, needs additional processing time or regularly cannot complete written tasks within the expected time.
Specific observations give the school more useful information when considering support.
What Can SEN Support Look Like?
Support depends on the child’s individual needs.
A school may consider additional classroom strategies, targeted intervention, small-group teaching, adapted resources, communication support, adjustments to the learning environment or assistance with particular activities.
GOV.UK gives examples including special learning programmes, extra help from a teacher or assistant, smaller-group work, support during activities and assistance with communication or physical and personal-care difficulties.
The important point is that SEND support should relate to barriers affecting the child’s education and participation.
For instance, a child with dyslexia may require particular approaches to reading and written work. A pupil with sensory difficulties might benefit from environmental adjustments. A child with physical needs may require accessibility arrangements.
Parents should ask what support is being offered, who is responsible for delivering it, what outcome is expected and when progress will be reviewed.
What Is Ealing’s Local Offer?
Ealing’s Local Offer is one of the most useful starting points for parents looking for SEND services.
Local authorities are required to publish information about education, health and social care services available locally for children and young people with SEND. Ealing’s Local Offer covers children and young people from birth to 25 and includes information about education, health and wellbeing, specific conditions, short breaks, money and benefits, housing adaptations, travel assistance and preparation for adulthood.
This means parents in areas such as Acton, Ealing Broadway, Southall, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt and Perivale can use the same borough-wide resource while looking for appropriate services.
The Local Offer can be particularly useful when a child needs support beyond what their school can provide or when parents want to understand what other local services exist.
How Can Ealing Family Information Service Help?
The Ealing Family Information Service (FIS) provides information, advice and guidance for families across the borough.
Its role includes helping families understand how to access SEND support, family services and Early Help. The FIS also manages the Ealing Local Offer and has a SEND officer who can provide advice to parents, carers, professionals and young people.
This can be useful when a parent knows that their child needs help but is unsure which service to approach.
Ealing Council currently lists the Family Information Service contact number as 020 8825 5588 and provides children@ealing.gov.uk for enquiries.
Parents can therefore use the service to clarify where to go next rather than contacting multiple organisations without knowing which one is responsible.
When Should I Ask About an EHC Needs Assessment?
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is designed for children and young people who need more support than is normally available through SEN support.
If a child’s needs are significant, complex or continuing and the support already being provided is not sufficient, an EHC needs assessment may be appropriate.
GOV.UK confirms that a parent can ask their local authority to carry out an EHC needs assessment. A young person aged 16 to 25 can also request an assessment themselves. Other people, including teachers and health professionals, can make a request where they believe an assessment may be necessary.
The assessment considers information from different sources, potentially including education, health and the family. It is not simply an academic assessment.
Parents should therefore keep relevant evidence about their child’s needs, including school information, professional reports, examples of difficulties and details of support already attempted.
How Does Ealing SENAS Fit Into the Process?
Ealing’s Special Educational Needs Assessment Service (SENAS) processes referrals for Education, Health and Care Plans.
Ealing Council lists SENAS as part of its SEND support arrangements and currently provides a business support duty line from Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm, on 020 8825 6910, with SENAS@ealing.gov.uk listed as its email contact.
Ealing also provides an EHC Parent and Young Persons Portal for eligible families to view the progress of an Education, Health and Care needs assessment and plan. The council explains that parents can access the portal when an assessment request has been agreed and they have been prompted to use it by the allocated EHC Coordinator.
Parents should distinguish between requesting an assessment and automatically receiving an EHCP. An assessment determines whether an EHC plan is necessary; it is not a guarantee that one will be issued.
What If My Child Needs Health or Specialist Support?
Some children require support involving education, health and social care rather than education alone.
Ealing’s Ealing Service for Children with Additional Needs (ESCAN) brings together professionals from different services. Ealing Council identifies education services such as educational psychology, specialist teaching for children with sensory impairments, EHC needs assessment and SEN travel assistance alongside specialist health services including paediatric occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy.
This multi-agency approach can be particularly relevant where a child’s needs affect several areas of daily life.
For example, a child may have communication difficulties affecting classroom learning while also requiring speech and language support. Another child may have physical needs requiring both educational adjustments and specialist therapy.
The correct pathway depends on the child’s circumstances, so parents should use the Local Offer or Family Information Service to understand which service is appropriate.
Can I Get Independent SEND Advice in Ealing?
Yes. Ealing SENDIASS provides impartial, confidential and free support for Ealing families.
SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service. Ealing Council describes the service as impartial, confidential and free and identifies it as a source of support for families dealing with SEND matters.
This can be particularly useful if you are preparing for a meeting with a school, trying to understand the EHCP process or unsure about your rights and available options.
Independent advice can also help parents prepare questions before a meeting rather than arriving without clear information.
What If I Disagree With an Ealing SEND Decision?
Parents do not have to accept every SEND decision without question.
Ealing Council provides guidance covering concerns about SEND decisions, including situations where the council refuses to carry out an EHC needs assessment, refuses to issue an EHCP, makes decisions about the contents of a plan or decides to cease an existing plan.
Depending on the circumstances, parents may first discuss the decision with the relevant EHC Coordinator or request mediation. There are also circumstances in which an appeal can be made to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
Ealing Council states that, in most cases, a mediation certificate is required before an appeal, with specific time limits applying to appeals.
Because deadlines and routes can depend on the exact decision received, parents should read the council’s decision letter carefully and obtain independent advice if they are considering challenging it.
What Evidence Should Parents Prepare?
Good records can make discussions with schools and services more productive.
Parents can keep copies of school reports, individual support plans, professional assessments, correspondence and meeting notes. It is also useful to record practical examples of what the child finds difficult and what happens when support is provided.
For example, rather than simply recording that a child “struggles with communication”, a parent could document situations where the child cannot follow verbal instructions but responds better when instructions are broken into smaller steps.
Similarly, if a child becomes overwhelmed in busy environments, note when this occurs, what triggers the difficulty and which adjustments appear helpful.
This information does not replace professional assessment, but it can give teachers and specialists a clearer picture of the child’s everyday experience.
What If My Child Is Not Yet in School?
The starting point can differ for younger children.
Ealing’s Local Offer covers children from birth to 25, while the Family Information Service provides information about early years services and SEND support.
If a child attends a nursery or early years setting, parents can discuss concerns with the setting’s staff and SENCO or SEND lead where applicable.
If a child is not attending a nursery or school, GOV.UK advises contacting the local council when a parent thinks their child may have SEND.
Early communication can be valuable because understanding a child’s needs before a major transition, such as starting primary school, can help families and professionals plan more effectively.
What If My Child Is Moving to College?
SEND support does not necessarily stop when a young person leaves secondary school.
For students aged 16 or over entering further education, GOV.UK advises families to contact the college before the young person starts so the provider can understand their needs and discuss appropriate support.
This is particularly important for students with an EHCP or significant additional needs.
Parents should discuss accessibility, learning support, communication requirements, travel arrangements and any relevant health or personal-care needs with the prospective college.
Planning early can also make the transition from school to further education less disruptive.
What Is the Best First Step for SEND Support in Ealing?
For most families, the best first step depends on where the child currently receives education.
If your child attends a nursery or school, start by speaking to the teacher and SENCO. Explain the specific difficulties you have observed and ask what support can be assessed or introduced.
If you are unsure which Ealing service to contact, the Family Information Service and Local Offer can help identify appropriate pathways. If the issue involves more complex educational needs, investigate the EHC needs assessment process and speak with SENAS or an independent SEND advice service where appropriate.
If the child has complex disability-related needs involving several services, Ealing’s ESCAN arrangements may also be relevant.
Most importantly, SEND support should focus on the child’s actual needs, barriers and outcomes rather than simply on whether they have a particular label or diagnosis. Current national SEND policy continues to emphasise identifying needs and providing support around barriers to learning and participation.
For an Ealing family, keeping clear records, involving the child where appropriate, communicating with professionals and using the Local Offer can make the process easier to navigate.
Frequently Asked Questions About SEND Support in Ealing
How do I get SEND support for my child in Ealing?
If your child attends a school or nursery, speak to their teacher or SENCO first. You can also use Ealing’s Local Offer and Family Information Service to identify additional local support.
Does my child need a diagnosis to receive SEN support?
Not necessarily. Educational support is based on the child’s special educational needs and the barriers affecting their learning and participation. A formal diagnosis and SEN support are not the same thing.
How do I request an EHCP assessment in Ealing?
A parent can ask the local authority to carry out an EHC needs assessment. Ealing’s SENAS processes referrals for EHC plans, and GOV.UK provides the national assessment process and timescales.
Is SENDIASS free in Ealing?
Yes. Ealing Council describes SENDIASS as an impartial, confidential and free service supporting families in Ealing with SEND.
What is Ealing’s Local Offer?
The Local Offer is Ealing’s information resource for children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND and their families. It covers areas including education, health, social care, short breaks, travel assistance, benefits and preparation for adulthood.
Can my child get SEND support at college?
Yes. Young people entering further education can receive support based on their needs. GOV.UK recommends contacting the college before the child starts so their support requirements can be discussed.
What can I do if I disagree with an Ealing SEND decision?
You can first seek clarification and discuss the decision with the relevant EHC Coordinator. Depending on the decision, mediation, a formal complaint or an appeal to the SEND Tribunal may be available. Time limits can apply, so parents should check the decision letter and seek independent advice promptly.
