The Family Navigator: your rights and next steps
Practical support for when you need answers, written records, meetings, assessments or independent advice.
What your child is entitled to
There are two main levels of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, often called SEND.
SEN Support is support the school provides once it recognises a need. This can include reasonable adjustments, small-group work, check-ins and the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle. It is arranged by the school and does not need council approval.
An Education, Health and Care Plan, often called an EHC plan, is a legal plan issued by the local authority. It sets out a child or young person’s education, health and social-care needs, along with the support that is to be provided.
An EHC plan is for children and young people whose needs may require more support than is normally available through SEN Support. Parents and carers can ask the local authority directly for an EHC needs assessment. You do not have to wait for the school to make the request. The local authority has six weeks to tell you its decision.
In principle, support is based on assessed need. But families and workers in our research described a system affected by who asks, how persistently they ask, and how a child’s behaviour is understood.
Our research highlighted a pattern that needs challenging: Black boys can be given one-to-one support because adults see risk or behaviour, while Black girls’ learning, emotional or neurodivergent needs may be missed or recognised late.
Chapter 15 sets out what the wider system needs to change.
For families, a clear paper trail can help. A written record of needs, agreed support and review dates is harder to overlook than a concern raised only in conversation.
You can ask for:
- The name of the school’s SENCO, the Special Educational Needs Coordinator, and a meeting with them.
- A written record of what has been agreed, including a date for review.
- A named school contact, so you know who to speak to if staff change.
- Copies of information held about your child. You can make a subject access request if needed.
- An EHC needs assessment from the local authority.
- Short, regular updates on support and what is helping. Chapter 12 includes a template that services can use.
Four practical steps
Put it in writing
Email the class teacher or SENCO. Say what you are worried about, what you are asking for and when you would like a response. You could write: “Please reply within two weeks.”
Verbal conversations can be forgotten or misunderstood. An email creates a clear record.
Meet with your tracker
Ask for a meeting with the SENCO, Head of Year or another relevant member of staff.
Bring your tracker or notes. Before the meeting ends, ask: who is responsible for the next step, and when will I be updated? Write down the answer.
Get independent advice
Contact your local SENDIASS service or IPSEA. They can explain your rights, help you decide what to ask for and support you to write the next letter.
SENDIASS is a free, impartial information, advice and support service for children and young people with SEND and their families.
Use formal routes if needed
If concerns are not resolved, you can make a written complaint to the headteacher and then to the governing body.
For EHC plan decisions, you may have a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, often called the SEND Tribunal. IPSEA and SOS!SEN can offer free help with SEND processes and appeals.
Referrals and your rights
A parent in our research described speaking up for her child and being referred to children’s services instead of being understood. A serving teacher in our co-working session recognised the same pattern. This section exists because of those experiences.
They will refer you to social services instead of understanding that you're the parent that has been advocating on your child's behalf.Parent, our family focus group
Particularly Black women who are fighting for what their children need... they're always seen as difficult or seen as aggressive. And it's like, hold on, they're actually talking about the right thing.Serving teacher, our co-working session
A referral is when someone shares a concern with the local authority’s children’s services. It is not a finding, charge or judgement.
Children’s services are expected to acknowledge the referral and decide what happens next within one working day. The response may be no further action, voluntary support, a further assessment or urgent action where a child may be at immediate risk.
If a social worker contacts you, ask:
- What is the concern?
- Who raised it?
- What information has been shared?
- What will happen next?
You can take someone with you to meetings, bring an advocate and answer questions in writing if that helps. Keep notes and copies of relevant documents in your tracker.
After any conversation about your child, send a short follow-up email on the same day.
You could write: “Thank you for meeting with me today. My understanding is that we agreed [X], and that [name] will [Y] by [date]. Please correct me if I have misunderstood.”
This takes a few minutes and turns a conversation into a shared written record.
The aim is not to be difficult. It is to make sure everyone understands what has been agreed and what happens next.
Ask for support to be reviewed
Dear [SENCO],
I am writing about [child’s name], who is in [class/year group].
I am concerned about [one or two sentences explaining what you see at home or what your child has told you].
Please can you tell me in writing:
- What support is currently in place.
- When it was last reviewed.
- When we can meet to review it together.
I would appreciate a reply within two weeks.
Thank you,
[Your name]
Request an EHC needs assessment
Dear SEN Team,
I am the parent or carer of [child’s name], born [date of birth], who attends [school].
I am requesting an EHC needs assessment under section 36(1) of the Children and Families Act 2014.
[Add two or three sentences describing your child’s needs, the support already tried and why you believe further assessment may be needed.]
Please confirm that you have received this request and let me know your decision within the six-week timescale.
Yours faithfully,
[Your name]
For fuller model letters, visit IPSEA.
SENDIASS. Every local authority is required to make SEND information, advice and support services available for children and young people with SEND and their families. Search online for: [Your borough] SENDIASS.
IPSEA. Free, legally based SEND advice, model letters and help with appeals.
SOS!SEN. A charity offering a helpline and advocacy support with SEND processes, including EHC plans.
Contact. Free advice and plain-language guides for families with disabled children. Freephone: 0808 808 3555.
Education Equals. Free advice and advocacy around exclusion, race equality and SEND. Find it in the toolkit directory in Chapter 17.