SEN Parent Support Group Shows you how!
Advocating with Confidence: Your Voice, Your Power
Advocating for your child in the SEND system isn’t just about being heard it’s about being understood, respected, and taken seriously. And while professionals might sit at the table with titles and policies, you bring something even more powerful: the unshakable determination to ensure your child is seen and supported.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re speaking into a void, you’re not alone. But with the right tools and mindset, you can transform fear into firm resolve. Here’s how.
Start With the Law, Then Add Lived Experience & Our Knowledge
Confidence comes from knowledge. The law is on your side. Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015, your child has the right to support that meets their needs no “ifs,” no “buts.”
When you know what you’re entitled to, you stop asking and start stating your position. Frame your requests with phrases like:
- “In line with Section 36(8), I’m requesting an EHC Needs Assessment…”
- “This provision in Section F does not meet the legal standard of specificity or quantification…”
Pairing that with real stories, meltdowns after school, missed friendships, the joy when support finally lands makes your parental advocacy human and unignorable. Add our friendly parental assessment “core” tool to that and there is your evidence of need: Click here for tool.
Document Everything, Always
Confidence is easier when you’re not relying on memory alone. Keep:
- A SEND diary: behaviour patterns, school responses, missed provision
- Emails and meeting notes
- Copies of all plans, assessments, and reviews
This isn’t paranoia, it’s protection. Documentation builds a timeline of what’s happened, what’s been promised, and what’s still outstanding.
Stay Calm, Not Silent
You don’t need to match the volume of a dismissive SENCO or the formality of a panel letter. You need to be clear, calm, and consistent. Confidence means saying:
- “I am not comfortable moving forward until I understand your reasoning.”
- “I would like to defer this meeting until the relevant reports are available.”
- “I’d like that confirmed in writing, please.”
Silence in these moments might feel polite but it often gets misread as agreement. So speak. Firmly. Kindly. Repeatedly if needed.
Know the Process and Its Pressure Points
Confidence grows when you understand not only what to do, but when to do it:
| Process Stage | Your Power Move |
|---|---|
| SEN Support | Ask for APDR evidence and quantify interventions |
| EHCP Request | Submit legally grounded request with tracked delivery |
| EHCP Draft | Review against Code of Practice; challenge vagueness |
| Tribunal Prep | Keep all communication; structure working doc with facts |
Our group resources walk you through each of these steps—with templates, videos, and real-world examples to back you up.
You Are the Expert Too
Never let a professional title make you feel “less than.” You may not have letters after your name but you have data: the lived experience of your child, 24 hours a day. That insight is invaluable.
Say: “As the person who knows my child best, I can say with confidence that this provision will not meet their needs.”
And mean it.
You’re Not Alone You’re Armed
Confidence doesn’t mean you won’t be nervous. It means you act anyway, because the stakes are too high to let fear win. With over 21,000 families behind you, detailed training, and a deep well of shared wisdom, you are never walking this road alone. We have your back at every corner, block or barrier put in your way!
So advocate. Loudly, calmly, proudly. Because no one should have to fight for a legal right but if we must fight, we’ll be ready.
🧡 With you in the trenches – SEN Parent Support Group
We are SEND Educational Experts, trained in SEND Law and are here to support you on your journey!
Click here to access our socials & renowned free support via our closed Facebook Group!
For more information message info@senparentsupportgroup.org
