What Is A SEND Advocate?

It can be really tough getting support when your child has additional educational needs. Who can you talk to?

Oct 21, 2024

Navigating the UK education system can be challenging when your child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A SEND advocate can play a crucial role in securing your child the support they are entitled to. But what exactly does a SEND advocate do, and why are they so important?

What Does SEND Mean?

The term SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It refers to children who require extra support to learn and thrive in their education. These needs can be physical, emotional, communicated via behavioural responses, or learning-related, and they range from mild to more complex needs.

UK law recognises that children with SEND should have the right to receive the help they need to access education in an inclusive and equitable way. Schools, Local Authorities, and other services are required to ensure proper support is in place. However, understanding and securing this support can often be difficult for parents and carers, which is where a SEND advocate comes in.

How do I know I’m choosing a good advocate?

Unfortunately, advocacy is currently not regulated in the UK, so in theory, anyone can set themselves up as an advocate and begin practising. But choosing a good advocate - with the right experience, professional qualifications and knowledge of UK SEND law - is crucial to making sure your family’s needs are met from the outset.

A good advocate will have a thorough understanding of the law surrounding special educational needs and be familiar with the process of securing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Ask about their experience and what qualifications they hold. Look for experience in fields like social work, education, Local Authority SEND teams, Healthcare, or in SEND legal support. A good advocate will be more than happy to share details of their professional experience with you when you speak to them.

Good advocates will also have strong communication and negotiation skills, and bucket-loads of experience liaising with schools and Local Authorities on behalf of families. It’s also important to find someone who listens to your concerns, respects your family’s views, is prepared to work with other professionals and get them onside, and can offer emotional support throughout the journey. You’re going to be working very closely with your advocate, so make sure they’re someone you connect with and trust. Checking for recommendations or testimonials from other parents can help you feel confident that they are trustworthy, effective and collaborative in their approach. It’s also worth checking whether they have obtained IPSEA training, received on the job training or hold any relevant qualifications.

The Role of a SEND Advocate

SEND advocates provide a variety of services depending on the needs of your child and family. The main roles include:

Providing Information and Advice: Advocates help you as parents and carers understand your child’s rights and what kind of support is available. They can clarify complicated terms, legal processes, and the steps needed to get support and funding through EHCPs, Disability Living Allowance, and university student support schemes, amongst others.
Supporting with Paperwork: Applying for assessments, EHCPs, and funding can involve a lot of paperwork, which can feel daunting. A SEND advocate assists with filling in forms, writing letters, and gathering evidence to present the strongest possible case for your child’s needs.
Attending Meetings: Advocates often accompany parents to meetings with schools, Local Authorities, or healthcare providers, helping to explain options and ensure your child’s best interests are represented. This can be invaluable, particularly in stressful or unfamiliar situations where you may feel overwhelmed.
Mediating and Challenging Decisions: If a school or local authority refuses to provide certain support, or if you disagree with an assessment, advocates can help by challenging those decisions. They are familiar with the legal framework surrounding SEND and can act as a mediator between families and professionals to find the best outcome for your child.
Offering Emotional Support: Dealing with your child’s additional needs can be emotionally challenging for parents. A SEND advocate offers not only practical help but also emotional support, providing a listening ear and reassurance throughout the process.

Why are SEND Advocates Important?

For many parents, the process of securing support for a child with SEND can feel overwhelming and complicated. Schools and Local Authorities are bound by legal duties, but the system is not always straightforward. You may not always know where to turn for help or how to ensure your child gets the assistance they need.

SEND Advocates bridge this gap by acting as knowledgeable guides who can navigate the educational landscape and advocate for your child's rights. They ensure that your child is not overlooked and that you’re fully informed about what services are available. Without this advocacy, you might miss out on vital support.

In many cases, SEND Advocates have personal experience as parents of children with SEND themselves, which gives them valuable insight into the challenges you’re facing.

How Can You Find a SEND Advocate?

There are several ways to find a SEND advocate. Many Local Authorities have independent SEND Information, Advice, and Support Services (SENDIASS) that offer free advice and advocacy to families. Charities such as IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice), SOS SEN! and the National Autistic Society also provide advocacy services and resources.

Across the UK, there are a variety of private SEND advocacy organisations supporting parents, families and young people. Some may be limited to one local area, others are national and able to support you regardless of your location. As the UK advocacy sector is currently unregulated, make sure you ask about the experience, professional qualifications and approach of any advocate you consider working with (go back up and re-read that section in this article!).

You can seek help at any stage of the process, whether you’re just starting to look into your child’s needs or are already in the midst of trying to secure an EHCP. Advocates are available for one-off advice or longer-term support depending on your family's needs.

What will a good advocate ensure?

Advocates should know their limits and should not engage in providing services they are not trained to deliver. Integrity is key and they need to be able to recognise when you need other specialists such as solicitors, psychologists, therapists etc and should inform you of this. Advocates should collaborate with others and signpost you to the people you need.

Importantly, advocates should check if you are entitled to legal aid to ensure they are not charging you for services you could access for free!

Finally, advocates should remember that you will need to continue to work with schools, colleges and local authorities long after they have gone and should not be unnecessarily adversarial. They should seek to build bridges where they can for you, and should not knowingly fracture existing relationships, making it more difficult for you in the future. Advocates may not have a magic wand, but they should do their best to leave you better than they found you.

Thinking about a SEND advocate?

A SEND advocate can be an invaluable resource, providing you with expert guidance and support through the often-complex world of SEND provision. By helping you understand your rights, navigating paperwork, attending meetings, and challenging decisions, advocates ensure that your child has the best possible chance to succeed.

Whether working directly with schools or helping families manage legal processes, SEND advocates are dedicated to ensuring every child gets the education and support they deserve.

If you’re considering working with an advocate to support your child, get in touch for a free introductory call: info@sendc.co.uk. We’re always happy to talk about our experience, qualifications and collaborative approach!

Can’t I Just Advocate for Myself?

Of course! Many parents and carers advocate for their own child, but navigating the complexities of the UK SEND legal system can be daunting. The process requires thorough research, understanding of legal frameworks, and familiarity with educational policies, which can be overwhelming without prior experience.

Building relationships with professionals - such as teachers, local authority professionals, and healthcare providers - can also be time-consuming and challenging, especially when there are disagreements about a child’s needs. Furthermore, knowing how to properly complete paperwork, gather evidence, and challenge decisions effectively the first time around requires a level of expertise and time that many families may not possess. For these reasons, many parents find it helpful to work with a SEND advocate, who brings specialist knowledge and experience to the table, ensuring that their child's rights and needs are fully represented.

If you’re going to navigate this alone, be careful of where you get your advice. Be sure to use one of the sources of high-quality, free support for parents and families in the UK. Many local authorities have independent SEND Information, Advice, and Support Services (SENDIASS) that offer free advice and advocacy to families. Charities such as IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice), the National Autistic Society and SOS SEN! also provide advocacy services and resources.

Checklist for choosing a good SEND advocate

We’ve put together a checklist to help you find the right advocate for your needs. We’d love to work with you, but whoever you choose to work with, we want to make sure they’re going to get things right for you and your family the first time round.

Your checklist to find a Good SEND Advocate

Does your advocate have:

A thorough understanding of the law surrounding special educational needs in the UK?
Experience with the process of securing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs)?
Extensive experience in fields like social work, education, Local Authority SEND teams, Healthcare, or in SEND legal support?
Strong communication and negotiation skills?
Bucket-loads of experience liaising with schools and Local Authorities on behalf of families?
Lots of recommendations and testimonials from other parents, professionals or local authority team members?
IPSEA training, on the job training or other relevant qualifications?

Are they willing to:

Share details of their professional experience with you when you speak to them?
Share information about their qualifications?
Explain clearly how their process for applying for EHCP, EOTAS, DLA, PIP or university student support works?
Share their pricing structure in an open and straightforward way?
Listen to your concerns, respect your family’s views, and work with other professionals to get them onside?
Offer emotional support throughout the journey?
Build bridges and work collaboratively?

After speaking with them, did you feel:

Confident that they are trustworthy, effective and collaborative in their approach?
Like you connected with them, you could trust them and they would be easy to work with?

If you have a tick in every box: congratulations! You’ve found yourself a Good SEND Advocate! Hold onto those people tightly because they are worth their weight in gold!

If you’re still looking for the right advocate, book in for a FREE call with us and see how we measure up: info@sendc.co.ukDid you like this post? Think you have a friend who might want to read it?

This article was originally posted on LinkedIn by The SEND Collaborative. The SEND Collaborative provide support to parents, carers and young people with all aspects of accessing additional educational support in the education system.