How do you decide whether your child would be better off in a specialist school or in a school with an SEN department? 

Topics the panel will discuss include: 

Understanding a child’s needs 

• By what age can we identify that our child has special educational needs? 
• Do we need to have had an educational psychologist report to apply? 
• Can we get Local Authority funding to support our child’s needs? 

General questions 

• We don’t want our child to be defined by their education needs, is this easier in a specialist or mainstream school? 
• What ‘reasonable adjustments’ can a mainstream school make to curriculum, timetable, teaching and facilities? 
• How does a school (in London) balance academic needs and nurture? 
• Will my child be asked to leave, if they don’t make the grade? 

The Good Schools Guide has a team of consultants who specialise solely in supporting and advising families who have a child with Special educational needs and might need additional support in a mainstream, specialist or special school. Mary Pegler is one of the Guide’s most experienced consultants and she and her colleagues will be pleased to meet you to answer any further questions at our stand 711 all day.