Needs-led assessment

A needs-led assessment looks at what a child is finding hard and what would help, rather than starting from a diagnostic label. In England this principle is built into the SEND Code of Practice, the government's guidance on the special educational needs SEND SEND is England's word for children who need extra help to learn. The rest of the UK uses other words, and other rules. Read the full definition of SEND system: provision is meant to be matched to identified need, and no diagnosis is required for SEN support SEN support The everyday help a school in England puts in place for a child with special educational needs. It is based on what your child needs, not on having a diagnosis. Read the full definition of SEN support at school. Scotland's additional support needs system is even more explicitly built this way.

The honest version of this entry holds two truths at once. As policy, support genuinely does not depend on a diagnosis, and you can ask school for SEN support today. In practice, parents find that some doors, particular services, some funding routes, still ask for a diagnosis first. Both things are real. Use the needs-led Needs-led Starting from what a child needs help with now, rather than waiting for a diagnosis first. School support can begin without any diagnosis. Read the full definition of Needs-led principle to get support started now, and keep pursuing assessment for everything a diagnosis adds: neither cancels the other.