For an A-Z of medical conditions, see here.
A
Accessing public services – A guide for parents from Cerebra on how to access public services
ADHD booklet – The ADHD Foundation have created a booklet about understanding and supporting your child’s ADHD.
ADHD – Bristol Parent Carers information page about ADHD.
ADHD Strategies and support – Helpful advice from ‘Additude’ for strategies and tips for supporting ADHD.
ADHD NICE Guidance – This guideline covers recognising, diagnosing and managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, young people and adults
AFRID – Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder – Beat eating disorders information about avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.
Alternative learning provision (ALP) – Alternative Learning Provision is for pupils who can’t attend mainstream educational settings because of health, emotional or behavioural reasons. There is more information here.
Annual reviews SOSSEN: What annual reviews are for, how to prepare for them and what happens after an annual review.
Appeal: A Guide to the SEN Tribunal by Aoife Murray, SEN Specialist. Douglas Silas Solicitors (also see template letters)
Appeal: Appeals as part of the National Trial -IPSEA Charity
Appeal: Advice on mediation – SEN help about mediation and how to do it effectively.
Appeal: Advice on Tribunal appeals From Contact for Families
Appeal: Download the forms needed for appeals – SEN help – a place to find the forms needed for appeals to the SENDIST tribunal.
Appeal: Guidance for producing a First Tier Tribunal Bundle – Guidance for producing a Tribunal Bundle for the First-tier Tribunal SEND (SEND40). This guide is to support people who have a tribunal logged to prepare the evidence bundle before the hearing.
Appeal: Preparing for an appeal – IPSEA Charity’s guide to how to prepare for a SENDIST appeal
Appeal: When can you appeal to the First Tier Tribunal, SENDIST? An explanation of what decisions you can appeal, and in what situations an appeal is able to be logged.
Aphasia – a comprehensive guide to Aphasia from the Child Neurology Foundation.
Apraxia (Speech sounds) -information about Apraxia of speech from Speechdisorder.org
Attendance – information from Not Fine In School on attendance, including government guidance on what schools and parents should do.
Auditory Processing Disorder – Information about Auditiry Processing Disorder from Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Autism – Information and support on our website about Autism.
Autism and education – Information from Ambitious about Autism Careers Education Framework.
Autism Act – National Autistic Society information on their campaign and the Autism Act
Autistica – YouTube series of useful videos about autism and the autistic experience.
B
Behaviour – Education Endowment Foundation guidance for improving behaviour in schools
Behaviour management in schools – Studio 3
Bercow 10 years on a report – on provision for children’s speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
Bereavement and loss – Advice and information from Winston Wish. (Also see Grief and loss)
Best endeavours – A key duty for certain settings is the duty to use their ‘best endeavours’ to secure special educational provisions for all children or young people for whom they are responsible. Read more on IPSEA
Blind – Support and advice from Royal Society for Blind Children
Blue Badge Scheme – Information from Bristol City Council about the disabled blue badge scheme .
Brain Injury (ABI) Acquired Brain Injury Information from the children’s trust on Acquired Brain Injury.
Bristol Support Plan– a non statutory plan used by some education settings for pupils that need extra support as part of the settings graduated approach to supporting children or young people with special educational needs and or disabilities.
C
Carers assessment in England – Factsheet for parents from Cerebra about carers assessments.
Case Law (decisions made during legal cases which could be helpful in understanding Education Health and Care Plan) Noddy Guide 2019 – Matrix law have a catalogue of case law that may be useful.
Case Law updates – Case Law updates from the Council for Disabled Children
Council for Disabled Children’s case law – digest service provides essential updates on the latest judicial decisions affecting disabled children and young people and those with SEN.
Cerebral Palsy Support for people affected by Cerebral Palsy
Cerebal Palsy Speech therapy for Cerebral Palsy explained
(SEND) Code of Practice 2015 – Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014
Children and Families Act 2014 this is the law regarding children and families, including specific sections on children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Communication Friendly Environment – Tips from Communication Trust (PDF) on how to create a communication friendly environment.
Complaints about a local authority – Information and model letter from IPSEA.
Continence – Advice on bowel and bladder issues from ERIC charity.
Coproduction – Advice from Gareth Morewood (also see parental engagement)
Coproduction – What is coproduction? Moving from theory to practice. Blog by Gareth Morewood
Council Tax Discounts – Information about council tax discounts for disabled people
CTR (Care Education and Treatment Review) – A CTR is a meeting to check that a person’s care and treatment is meeting their needs.
D
Deafness – National Deaf Children’s Society
Deaf Information – British Deaf Association
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) – advice and information from NAPLIC
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) – Videos to learn more about DLD from This is DLD
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) – What is DLD? RCSLT
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Fact sheet from RADLD about developmental language disorder.
Diabetes UK – The UK’s leading diabetes charity
Diabetes JDRF – Information and support for Type 1 Diabetes
Disability living allowance (DLA) – Mythbuster for parents and carers from Cerebra
Disability Rights – information about rights and laws to protect disabled people.
Disabled Children’s legal Handbook Available to download or buy An accessible guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England and Wales.
Disabled Students Allowance – a guide from Special Needs Jungle to disabled students allowance at universities.
Disability Discrimination – Information from IPSEA
Disability Discrimination – This page provides information on what constitutes disability discrimination and explains the duties of education providers to not discriminate against pupils on the basis of their disability from Child Law Advice
Disability Discrimination Technical Guidance for Schools – From the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Diversity – Diversity refers to the range of differences that exist among people, including differences in culture, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, and other characteristics. It is about recognising and valuing these differences, and creating an environment where everyone feels respected and included.
DLA – Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the main benefit for disabled children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is not means tested, or taxable, and it doesn’t count as income for other benefits.
Down’s Syndrome Association – The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) supports all people who have Down’s syndrome, their parents and carers and the professionals who work with them, throughout their lives. They are committed to improving the quality of life for people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others.
Draft EHCP – Model letter from IPSEA on how to respond to an EHCP draft
Draft EHCP – Advice from SENhelp on draft EHCPs
Draft EHCP. Negotiate a Draft EHCP – Advice from SOS!SEN on draft EHCPs
Dyscalculia – Maths difficulties and Dyscalculia, Information from British Dyslexia Association
Dyscalculia – Advice for parents and schools from Ronit Bird
Dyslexia – General information from Understood.org
Dyspraxia – Information at the Dyspraxia foundation website
E
EAL (English as an additional language) and SEND – advice and information from NALDIC
Early Intervention Fund – information on the Early Intervention Fund Bristol City council can provide to schools to support them to provide early interventions before an application for an EHCP needs assessment has been made
Eating disorders – Information and support form BEAT the eating disorder charity
Eating disorders in children under 12 – Information from Hope
Eating disorders – Toolkit for schools
EBSA (emotional-based school anxiety) – Information from mentally healthy schools
Annual reviews SOSSEN: What annual reviews are for, how to prepare for them and what happens after an annual review.
EHCP Appeal: A Guide to the SEN Tribunal by Aoife Murray, SEN Specialist. Douglas Silas Solicitors (also see template letters)
EHCP Appeal: Appeals as part of the National Trial -Information from IPSEA Charity
EHCP Appeal: Advice on mediation – Information from SEN help
EHCP Appeal: Advice on Tribunal appeals – Information form Contact
EHCP Appeal: Download the forms needed for appeals – Information from SEN help on the forms needed
EHCP Appeal: Guidance for producing a First Tier Tribunal Bundle – Guidance for producing a Tribunal Bundle for the First-tier Tribunal SEND (SEND40)
EHCP Appeal: Preparing for an appeal – IPSEA Charity
EHCP Appeal: When can you appeal to the First Tier Tribunal, information from SENDIST
EHCNA: EHC Needs Assessments – information about Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments from IPSEA (also see Template letters)
EHCP: EHC assessment: how to request an assessment. – What must happen in an EHC assessment. How to appeal a decision
EHCP: EHC assessment – Model letter from IPSEA to request an EHC needs assessment
EHCP: EHC assessment: From requesting an assessment to appealing a decision – SOS!SEN
EHCP: EHCP advice – SOS!SEN
EHCP: Case Law (an easy to read collection of decisions made during legal cases which could be helpful in understanding Education Health and Care Plan rights), provided by Matrix law
EHCP: EHCP failure to provide the provision -Model letter for complaining when the support from the Plan in Section F is not being received by the child or young person
EHCP: Draft EHCP – SEN help
EHCP: Draft EHCP. Negotiate a Draft EHCP – SOS!SEN
EHCP: Draft EHCP – Model letter: Responding to an EHCP draft
Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) – Information and support from EhlersDanlos.Org
Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) – Information and support from Hyper Mobility Syndrome Association
Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) – Support groups
Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) – Toolkit from RCGP
Encephalitis: Advice and information – Eden Dora Trust
EOTAS – Information on Education Other Than At School from Special needs jungle
Epilepsy Action – Epilepsy Advice and support from Epilepsy Action
Epilepsy – ESUK epilepsy advice and support
Epilepsy – The identification of educational problems in childhood epilepsy a report on a piece of academic research
Equality – Equality is about ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities and rights, regardless of their differences. It is about treating people fairly and without discrimination, and providing equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and other services. See also equity.
Equality Act 2010 Guidance – Information and guidance on the Equality Act 2010, including age discrimination and public sector Equality Duty.
Equality Act (Disability) Regulations 2010 The law regarding equality for disabled people
Equality Advisory and Support Service Advice, support, helpline
Equity – Equity is about providing the resources and support that individuals or groups need in order to achieve a fair outcome, based on their unique circumstances. It recognises that children and young people have different needs, opportunities, and abilities, and therefore require different resources and support in order to achieve the same outcome. In the context of education, for example, equity might mean providing additional resources or support to students who are disadvantaged or have special needs, in order to ensure that they have the same opportunities for success as other students.
Exclusions Advice – IPSEA’s advice on exclusions, what parents can do and speaking to schools about exclusion
Exclusions Advice and Free Representation – School Exclusion Project provides free legal representation to help parent challenge permanent school exclusions.
Exclusion and Disability Discrimination IPSEA’s advice and information.
Exclusions. Informal Exclusion – IPSEA’s information and advice.
Exclusions What is legal? – Information from NCB, IPSEA and ASCL
F
FAQ’s about Funding in schools for SEND
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder definition and support
Fragile X Syndrome – information and support on Fragile X syndrome
Funding information for SEND provision -Information from SEN help about funding SEND provisions/help schools can put in place.
G
Global Developmental Delay – information about Global Development Delay
Glue Ear – Information about Glue Ear
Grief and Loss – Advice and support from Farleigh Hospice (also see bereavement and loss)
Grief and Loss – Young minds website section on grief and loss
H
Hearing loss, Hearing Impairment – information from the National Deaf Children’s Society
Holidays – a list on inclusive holiday venues
Hypermobility – Hypermobility Syndromes Association
Hospital passport – A Hospital Passport is a short 2-4 page document designed to help autistic people communicate their needs to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals
I
IPSEA Charity – IPSEA offer free independent information, advice, support and training
Irlen Syndrome – Information about Irlen Syndrome
Inclusion: Inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, regardless of their differences. It is about actively promoting and embracing diversity, and ensuring that everyone feels welcome and able to participate fully in all aspects of society and it requires proactively enabling people to take a full part in the environment.
Incontinence – ERIC Children’s bowel and bladder charity
J
Judicial Review Information – from SOS!SEN
Judicial Review Blog – Why judicial review is a real remedy in SEND and disability cases. By Steve Broach, Barrister
K
L
Learning difficulties. Learning disabilities information about learning difficulties and disabilities
Legal advice – advice for parents and carers on finding the right legal advice
Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) information about the Local Government Ombudsman, what they do and how to make a complaint to them.
Looked after children – advice and support from Family Action
Local Area SEND inspections, how can parents get involved? – Blog by C.Ryan
Local Area SEND Inspections. Where are we now? – Blog by Matt Keer
Local Offer – A helpful explanation of what the Local Offer is from SEN help
Local Offer – Bristol City Council’s local offer website
M
Mediation advice – from SEN help
Medical conditions – Guidance for schools supporting learners with medical conditions
Medical conditions in schools – Working collaboratively to keep children with medical conditions safe in school.
Mental health first aid – Advice, posters, information for schools. MHFA England
Multi Sensory Impairment – Sensory support service for hearing impaired, vision impaired and multi sensory impairments in Bristol
N
Neurodiversity – advice and information on neurodiversity and co-occurring conditions from Do-IT
Neurodiversity – advice and information on neurodiversity and co-occurring conditions from Genius Within
O
Occupational Therapy – What is occupational therapy? An explanation of what Occupational Therapy is
Ordinarily Available Provision – a document which details the support schools in Bristol should offer to pupils, even if there is no diagnosis
OFSTED and OFSTED SEND Inspections OFSTED are responsible for inspecting schools and local authorities
Find an Inspection report – OFSTED’s website to search for inspection reports of schools and local SEND inspections
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder – information from contact about ODD and CD
P
Panel – a phrase used in Bristol to describe a collection of people who meet to decide the types of provision and support your child required. A panel is made us of school staff, educational psychologists and SEND team staff
Panel 1 – a phrase used in Bristol to describe the first panel decision in the EHCP process; when the Local Authority decide if they will carry out a needs assessment
Panel 2 – a phrase used in Bristol to describe the second panel decision in the EHCP process; when the Local Authority decide if they will issue an EHCP
PDA – pathological demand avoidance – information from PDA Society
Person centred planning – advice and information for schools on how to ensure planning is person centred
Person centred planning – research article about person centred planning
Personal Budgets and Direct Payments – information from IPSEA
Physiotherapy – What is Physiotherapy? An explanation of what physiotherapy is.
Play therapists in and around Bristol – list of play therapists in and around Bristol from Bristol Autism Support
Police passports – The aim of a police passport is to ensure that if police are called out to support you or your child, they will be aware of you/your Child’s needs
Preparing for Adulthood – A guide – a review and recommendations for preparing for adulthood from the earliest age
Q
R
Reasonable adjustments – are changes that should be made to an environment to allow people with disabilities to access it, read more on Special Needs Jungle.
Representatives – during an EHCP appeal you may want legal representation. We can not recommend any specific representatives and encourage you to ask parent carers for recommendations, but we have hosted webinars with Geldards, SOS!SEN and Watkins.
S
Self-harm – Advice for those supporting people with learning disabilities
Self-harm – Guidance for schools (2014)
Self-harm – Information for parents/carers
Self-harm – Information about treating self-harm in children and teens
Situational mutism – Information from Maggie Johnson, SM specialist
Situational mutism – Information from SMIRA
SEND – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
SEND Inspection – Guides for parents, carers, children and young people about inspections of local services for children and young people with SEND
SEND law and guidance – Code of practice, SEND Regs, Children’s and families act, plus template letters from SENhelp (also see template letters)
SENDIST Tribunal -What the first tier tribunal does (also see ‘Appeals‘)
Sensory Processing Difficulties – Video about sensory processing difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties – Information about sensory processing difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties – This link takes you to a book about sensory processing difficulties
Sensory Processing Difficulties – Top tips for everyday life
Sleep tips | Sleep cards | Sleep mythbuster – From Cerebra
Social care in England and Social care in Wales – Information from Cerebra
Social care information, advice and support – Inclusion London has worked with solicitors and specialists such as professor Luke Clements to put together resources to help disabled people and DDPOs understand how the system should work and what the law says.
Social Emotional Mental Health Needs (SEMH) – Toolkit from nasen
Social Communication Disorder and Semantic Pragmatic Disorder – An overview from RCSLT
Solicitors: HCB
Solicitors: Irwin Mitchell
Solicitors: Simpson Millar
Solicitors: Sinclairs Law
SOS!SEN Charity – SOS!SEN offer a free, independent and confidential telephone helpline, drop in advice centres and information.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 England Amendments – the law regarding special educational needs and disabilities
Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2014 – The SEND Code of Practice is a statutory document that sets out what schools and local authorities must do to support children and young people with special educational needs
Special Educational Needs Code of Practice – A guide on the SEN code of practice from Douglas Silas Solicitors
Specific Learning difficulty This is a difficulty with a particular area of learning, for more information click the link.
Speech Therapy Providers in and around Bristol – list of speech therapists in and around Bristol
Speech and Language Therapy Factsheet – from Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Speech, language and communication needs – Ican helpline – helpline for speech and language advice
Speech, Language and Communication needs CPD for Teachers – from the Communication Trust
Speech, Language and Communication needs Information for Student Teachers – from the Communication Trust
Speech Sound Disorder – a quick guide from Child Mind
Stammering – Information and support from Stamma
Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Needs – A guide for parents from Communication Trust
Support Plan– a non statutory plan used by education settings for pupils that need extra support
Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions at School – Statutory guidance about the support that pupils with medical conditions should receive at school.
T
#TeamSEND – You can find others within the SEND community for advice or support on Twitter by searching the hashtag #TeamSEND
Template letters – Addressing a wide range of difficulties parents and carers of young people with SEND might face, these template letters are from Cerebra
Template letters – Appealing and challenging a wide range of difficulties parents and carers face accessing SEND processes
Tourettes Action – Information and support about Tourettes
Transition support – Downloadable resources available on Chatter Pack’s website
Transition to adulthood – audit tool for professionals
Transport advice -Simpson Millar Solicitors advice regarding transport and travel to school
Transport information – Information on what Local Authorities should do regarding providing transport to disabled children
Transport support– SENTAS provides parents and young adults with information, advice and advocacy around issues with SEND home to school and college transport
Trauma Advice Information and Resources – Beacon House
Tribunals: -Also see ‘Appeals’
U
V
Visual Impairment -Royal Society for Blind Children website
Visual Processing difficulties – Information from Understood.org
w
Williams Syndrome – information about Williams Syndrome from the Williams Syndrome Association