All services in education, health and social care have a legal responsibility to make adjustments to make sure everyone can access the support they need. 

In the first instance, speak to your child's teacher or the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

Education, Health and Care Plans are issued to children or young people who have significant, complex, and long-term special educational needs that require additional provision. Most children’s needs can be met without an EHCP. Not all children with a diagnosis will need an ECHP and some children with an EHCP will not have a diagnosis. 


This page provides information on support available in all schools. For information on 'This is Me' or the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS), visit New Projects.

The School Health Service provides support for primary and secondary-aged children with a variety of health issues and will refer to specialist services, when needed.

These include:

  • daytime and night time wetting and soiling
  • behaviour management
  • healthy eating and lifestyle
  • emotional health and wellbeing
  • puberty and growing up
  • sexual health
  • stopping smoking
  • drug and alcohol misuse
  • sleep
  • complex health needs.

There are a number of school health teams across Kent. Referring to one of the teams is easy:

0300 123 4496
kchft.schoolhealth@nhs.net
Online referral form

This service can offer support if:

  • you are worried about your child’s behaviour
  • you are struggling to cope
  • you are worried about your family finances
  • your child is struggling to cope with bereavement
  • your child is being bullied
  • your child refuses to go to school or college
  • you or your child want to develop new friends and have new experiences
  • you are having difficulties with family relationships

Your child’s GP or preschool/school can make a referral on your behalf. More information about can be found at www.kelsi.org.uk/earlyhelp.

The Early Help triage team can be contacted on earlyhelp@kent.gov.uk or 03000 41 92 22.

If the staff at your child’s preschool or school need additional advice, training or support to help your child, then the SENCo can make a referral to the Local Inclusion Forum Team (LIFT). You will need to give consent for this to happen.

At the Early Years LIFT meeting the SENCo will share the needs of your child and explain what has been tried to date to enable progress. Other settings/schools and professionals, for example, an educational psychologist or specialist teacher may suggest further strategies that can be tried.

The outcomes of the LIFT meeting should be shared with you by the SENCo. This will then enable targets to be set for your child and a plan to be prepared with you.

The Health Visiting Service provides support and confidential health advice. They can advise you on:

  • your child’s growth and development
  • behaviour difficulties, such as sleeping, eating, potty training and temper tantrums
  • healthy eating, hygiene, safety and exercise.