Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Every child and young person has the right to feel safe, be listened to and be protected from abuse, neglect and harm. This includes children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Children and young people with SEND may sometimes face additional barriers to being heard or getting the help they need. For example, a child may communicate in a different way, rely on other people for personal care or support, or find it difficult to tell someone when something is wrong.
It is important that adults do not assume that a change in a child's behaviour, communication or wellbeing is simply part of their disability or additional needs. All children communicate, although this may not always be through words. Adults should know how each child communicates and take the time to notice and understand what they may be trying to tell us.
Recognising when something may be wrong
Signs of abuse or neglect can look different for every child. When supporting a child or young person with SEND, professionals, families and carers should be curious about changes or concerns and consider the child's individual needs and circumstances.
Things that may need further attention can include:
One sign does not necessarily mean that a child is being harmed. However, concerns should be taken seriously, considered in the context of the individual child, and acted on appropriately. Children and young people with SEND should be given meaningful opportunities to share their views in a way that works for them.
Support for children, young people and families in Torbay
There is a range of support available in Torbay for children and young people with SEND and their families.
The Torbay SEND Local Offer brings together information about services, support and opportunities available for children and young people with SEND and their families.
It includes information about education, health, social care, preparing for adulthood and support available in the local community.
Visit the Torbay SEND Local Offer
SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service.
Torbay SENDIASS provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with SEND and to their parents and carers.
The service can help families understand SEND processes, their rights and the law relating to special educational needs and disabilities.
Find out more about SENDIASS Torbay
SEND Family Voice Torbay is Torbay’s Parent Carer Forum (PCF recognised by the Department for Education. The forum provides a way for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND to share their experiences, views and ideas.
The Parent Carer Forum works with local services and partners to help make sure that the voices and experiences of families are heard when SEND services are being developed and improved.
Getting involved with SEND Family Voice Torbay can also help parent carers connect with other families, find out about opportunities to have their say and contribute to improving services for children and young people with SEND across Torbay.
Your experiences matter. By listening to children, young people and their families, we can work together to make services safer, more inclusive and more responsive to what families need.
SEND Family Voice Torbay (SFVT) – Parent Carer Forum - Family Hub
If you are worried about a child
If something does not feel right, you do not need to be certain that abuse or neglect has happened before sharing a concern.
Listen to the child, take what they communicate seriously and follow the appropriate safeguarding process. Where a child communicates without speech, adults should make every reasonable effort to understand their communication, behaviour and presentation rather than assuming that they cannot tell us what is happening.
Further reading
