Guides

This guide is for parents or carers of young people who are disabled or have special educational needs, with or without and Education Health & Care Plan. Dorset Parent Carer Council has produced this guide in collaboration with Dorset Council, parents, carers, and providers of education and health services including NHS Dorset. We have talked to families who have experienced transition to ensure that the advice is as useful as possible.

This guide explains the support ordinarily available in Dorset education settings, from early years settings to post-16 providers, if a child or young person needs more help to achieve their potential. It includes information on how settings should use the Graduated Approach to plan support for children and young people, and how you can access support in your local area. The Graduated Approach is outlined in the SEND Code of Practice (2015).

Our partnership working will ensure that children, young people and their families have
equal opportunity to meaningfully participate in the decisions that affect them at individual,
operational and strategic levels.