Please contact us for help and advice on any aspect of special educational needs:
Children have special educational needs if they have difficulties in one or more of the following areas:
- learning (eg reading or maths problems, severe learning difficulties)
- communication (eg speech and language difficulties, autism)
- behaviour (eg emotional difficulties, aggressive behaviour)
- sensory or physical capability (eg hearing impairment, cerebral palsy).
East Sussex Children's Services Authority is committed to including as many children as possible in mainstream education. Most children with special educational needs attend their local school and where possible they are educated with other children of the same age.
Our goal is to create inclusive schools so that all children and young people have equal access to their community school and specialist provision. We are working to raise expectations and achievement for pupils and young people with special educational needs.
Factsheet and information booklets
If you are concerned that your child may have difficulties with learning it is important to speak to someone as soon as possible – parents are often the first to notice any difficulties.
Where to get help and the range of support available is outlined in our factsheet and information booklets:
If your child has not yet started school
Please see our pages about Special Educational Needs in Early Years.
If your child has not yet started school you could speak to your doctor, health visitor, or the Early Years Teaching and Support Service.
Your child's nursery or school
You can talk to your child's teacher, the SEN Coordinator (SENCO) at the school or the headteacher about their special educational needs and appropriate support.
Moving up to Secondary School
Advice about the move to secondary school for pupils with a statement of special educational needs can be found in our booklet:
SEN forms
There are a number of forms that teachers and other professionals working in SEN may need to use when working with your child. Depending on circumstances, there are four forms you may need to complete:
- SA Consent – consent of a parent or legal guardian to a statutory assessment
- SA Form A – parental information for considering a statutory assessment
- SA Form B – parental advice for statutory assessment
- AR2 – parental advice for an annual review.
All forms and guidance notes are available on Czone, the website for Children's Services professionals in East Sussex:
Helpline – Parent Link
Parent Link gives information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with SEN in East Sussex. Impartial, confidential support is offered to parents through our telephone helpline.
For help and advice contact Parent Link.
General enquiries
For help and advice on any aspect of SEN, please contact us using our online form:
East Sussex County Council