Navigating SEND with Laura-Jayne Ward

Navigating SEND with Laura-Jayne Ward Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Navigating SEND with Laura-Jayne Ward, Educational consultant, Leicestershire.

I’ve seen too many struggle to get SEND support for their child

I use my experience from teaching (over 2 decades as a teacher/SENCO/senior leader and 2.5 years working in an LA EHCP team) to support families and schools to get the right support in place

Is your Tribunal hearing coming up? Don't let an out-of-date school offer catch you out!Over the last few weeks, I've be...
27/09/2026

Is your Tribunal hearing coming up? Don't let an out-of-date school offer catch you out!

Over the last few weeks, I've been talking with several families whose SEND Tribunal hearings have been postponed. One of the issues has been that their offers of places at non-Section 41 approved schools have run out of date.
It's an easy thing to overlook when you've spent months preparing for your hearing!

If you're asking the Tribunal to name a non-Section 41 approved school in Section I of your child's EHCP, you need to make sure that the school is still offering your child a place.

Here's what I recommend:
1. Check with the school that their offer of a place will still be valid on the date of your hearing.
2. If the offer has expired, or will expire before your hearing, ask the school for an updated written offer.
3. Send the updated offer to both the Tribunal and the Local Authority before your hearing, in line with any deadlines or directions.

Why does this matter?

The Tribunal needs evidence that the school is willing to offer your child a place. Without a current offer, it may not be able to name your preferred school in Section I.

And if your hearing has already been postponed, don't forget to check that the offer will still be valid on your new hearing date!
A quick check now could help avoid unnecessary delays later.

Save this post if you're preparing for a Section I appeal, and share it with another family who might find it helpful.

You know your child best.No report, assessment or professional spends as much time with your child as you do.Your voice ...
26/09/2026

You know your child best.

No report, assessment or professional spends as much time with your child as you do.

Your voice matters.

Your evidence matters.

Your observations matter.

The key is presenting that knowledge in a way that links your child’s needs to their education and explains why an EHC needs assessment may be necessary.

I hope this week’s posts have helped you feel a little more confident about the process.

If you’d like to keep learning, I’ve created a growing library of completely free resources answering common questions about EHC needs assessments, appeals and SEND processes.

Explore them anytime at me-0565.freshlearn.com

You’ve got this—and you’re not navigating SEND alone.

Hello and welcome to our new followers!If you're here because you're trying to get the right support for your child, you...
25/09/2026

Hello and welcome to our new followers!

If you're here because you're trying to get the right support for your child, you're in the right place.

I'm Laura-Jayne, the person behind our Navigating SEND service.

I've spent over 20 years working in education as a teacher, SENCO and school leader, as well as working in a local authority EHCP team and representing the council at SEND Tribunals.
I've seen the SEND system from all sides, and my goal is simple: to help families understand the process, know their rights and get the right support for their child without everything becoming a battle.

Need help understanding the EHCP process?

Our affordable online courses break down SEND law and EHCP processes into clear, practical steps.

Whether you're just starting an EHC needs assessment request, checking a draft EHCP or preparing for an appeal, there's a course to help you understand what to do next.

✅ Learn at your own pace.
✅ Understand what the law says.
✅ Find out what evidence you need.
✅ Feel more confident about your next steps.

On demand short courses start from just £7.50, so you can get the information you need without paying for hours of 1:1 support.

Ready to get started? Visit our website to explore our online courses and find the support that's right for you.

And if you're new here, do say hello in the comments! I'd love to know where you are in your SEND journey and what you'd like to learn more about.

Clearer information. Calmer conversations. So every child can thrive.

What should you actually include in your request?One of the biggest mistakes parents make is assuming the Local Authorit...
25/09/2026

What should you actually include in your request?

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is assuming the Local Authority already understands their child’s needs.

Your request should clearly explain:
🟢 Your child’s strengths and difficulties
🟢 Evidence of need
🟢 The impact on education
🟢 What support has already been tried
🟢 Why an EHC needs assessment may be necessary

The clearer the picture, the easier it is for the decision-maker to understand why an assessment should be carried out.

If you’d like more support, visit me-0565.freshlearn.com where you’ll find free FAQs and resources about EHC needs assessments, appeals and SEND law.

Strong evidence beats strong emotion.It’s completely understandable to write about how worried, frustrated or exhausted ...
24/09/2026

Strong evidence beats strong emotion.

It’s completely understandable to write about how worried, frustrated or exhausted you feel.

But when requesting an EHC needs assessment, the strongest evidence answers questions like:
✔️ What is the difficulty?
✔️ What impact is it having on learning?
✔️ What support has already been tried?
✔️ What happened as a result?

Think facts, examples and evidence—not because your feelings don’t matter, but because that’s what the legal test requires.

You can find more free guidance, examples and FAQs at me-0565.freshlearn.com.

Our free advice call hours have changed!Got a question about SEND or your child's EHCP? We're here to help you understan...
24/09/2026

Our free advice call hours have changed!

Got a question about SEND or your child's EHCP? We're here to help you understand your options and what to do next.

📞 Free advice calls: Tuesdays, 2pm–6pm

Each call lasts 15 minutes and is designed to help you with one specific question.

When you book online, you can share some background information about your question. This helps us prepare and make the most of our time together.

Need more detailed support?

If you'd like to talk through your child's case in more detail, we also offer full case management consultations.

These are charged at £35 per hour and can be arranged by sending us a DM or emailing our service.

Book your free 15-minute advice call here:

https://calendly.com/laurajward/15minintro

Clear information. Practical advice. Helping families understand their next steps.

Have you ever read your own request through the eyes of the Local Authority?Parents often write exactly what they’re exp...
23/09/2026

Have you ever read your own request through the eyes of the Local Authority?

Parents often write exactly what they’re experiencing—but the Local Authority has to consider whether the evidence demonstrates that an EHC needs assessment may be necessary.

For example:
❌ “School isn’t doing enough.”
✅ What interventions have already been tried?
✅ What evidence shows they haven’t worked?
✅ What impact is this having on your child’s education?

Small changes in how you present your evidence can make a big difference.

Need more help? Visit me-0565.freshlearn.com for free resources and FAQs covering EHC needs assessments, refusals, appeals and much more.

It’s not what you say, it’s how it’s understood.When you request an EHC needs assessment, your Local Authority isn’t dec...
22/09/2026

It’s not what you say, it’s how it’s understood.

When you request an EHC needs assessment, your Local Authority isn’t deciding whether life is difficult for your child—they’re deciding whether the legal test for an assessment is met.

That means evidence matters, but so does how it’s presented.

This week I’ll be sharing five practical tips to help you write a stronger request and avoid some of the most common pitfalls parents encounter.

If you’re starting your EHC journey (or wondering why your request was refused), you’ll find free FAQs and resources covering EHC needs assessments, appeals and the SEND process at me-0565.freshlearn.com.

Save this post so you can refer back to it throughout the week.

Thinking about requesting an EHC needs assessment? Now is a great time to get started.September and October can be a par...
22/09/2026

Thinking about requesting an EHC needs assessment? Now is a great time to get started.

September and October can be a particularly good time to submit your request. Here’s why:

A fresh start: Your child has had time to settle into their new class, meet their teachers and get used to their new timetable. This can help build a clearer picture of their needs.

More time in school: The autumn term offers the longest stretch of relatively uninterrupted teaching in the academic year. This gives professionals time to observe your child, gather evidence and understand the support they need.

Better timing for the next steps: If the assessment leads to an EHCP, the draft plan and school consultations may take place while schools are open. This makes it easier for staff to respond without needing to work during their holidays.

But remember, you do NOT need to wait for the right time of year to request an assessment!

If you believe your child may need an EHCP, you can make a request at any point in the year.

This week, we're helping families get started!

We'll be posting daily tips on our page to help you understand the EHC needs assessment process, what evidence to include and how to put together a clear, focused request.

Would you like someone to check your paperwork before you send it? Navigating SEND can review your completed request and supporting evidence, identify any gaps and provide written recommendations to help you strengthen your application. Our paperwork review service costs £45 with one hour to read your documents, plus the additional time needed to write your recommendations.

You can also explore our affordable online courses and resources for step-by-step guidance on making an EHC needs assessment request.

Follow our page this week for daily tips to help you get started!

It’s Thrive Tuesday!Got a SEND or EHCP question you’re not sure about? Post it in the comments below and I’ll answer you...
22/09/2026

It’s Thrive Tuesday!

Got a SEND or EHCP question you’re not sure about? Post it in the comments below and I’ll answer your questions today.

Clear information. No jargon. Just helping you understand what happens next.

Address

Leicestershire

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Navigating SEND with Laura-Jayne Ward posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category