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Explaining Your Child's Needs to a School Without an EHC Plan
- Feb 25
- 1 min read
If your child doesn’t have an EHC plan, their needs are still just as important. It just means you’ll share their needs with the school in a different way, and sometimes you have more freedom in how you do this.
Begin by writing a short summary of your child’s strengths and challenges. Include what helps them learn and feel comfortable. Focus on practical details. For example, saying your child needs advance notice of changes is more helpful than just saying they get anxious.
Ask for a meeting with the school’s SENCO before or soon after your child starts. Explain your child’s autistic traits, sensory needs, communication style, and social needs in a way that’s specific to them.
Bring any professional reports you have, like assessments from a psychologist, occupational therapist, or speech and language therapist. Even if they didn’t lead to a diagnosis or plan, they can still help the school understand your child.
Schools are required to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. If you think your child’s needs aren’t being met, write down your concerns. This creates a record and can help things move faster.
You are your child’s best advocate. Don’t expect the school to figure everything out on their own—guide them, and be clear about what your child needs.
We have lots of free downloads to help you describe and explain your child’s needs to a new school. Click the link below to find them 👇
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