Seeing the whole child, not just the label
Many special educational needs go unrecognised for years — not because they’re invisible, but because they’re misread as behaviour, attitude, or inconsistency. The result is frustration, falling confidence, and a widening gap between a child’s ability and their experience in school.
We help families understand what lies beneath the difficulty, secure the right assessments, and put in place support that actually works.
Our SEND consultancy services
A clear, well-coordinated plan makes all the difference. We help families understand their child’s needs, navigate provision, and secure the right support—whether in a mainstream school, specialist setting, or through Lionheart’s own educational pathways.
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SEND assessments & educational profiling
We organise comprehensive assessments—cognitive, academic, speech and language, occupational therapy, or multi-disciplinary reviews—to build an accurate picture of a child’s strengths and needs.
Families receive clear, practical recommendations, not just diagnostic labels.
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EHCP support & parental advocacy
We guide families through every stage of the EHCP process: applications, evidence gathering, annual reviews, and appeals.
Our consultants ensure the plan properly reflects need, provision, and outcomes—supporting parents in meetings and liaising with local authorities where required.
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Mainstream school guidance & provision mapping
We help families understand what “reasonable adjustments” should look like in practice. This includes classroom strategies, TA deployment, curriculum access, pastoral support, and recommendations to ensure the school meets its legal obligations.
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Specialist school advice & placement
For students who need a richer level of support, we advise on specialist and independent SEND schools—interpreting reports, assessing suitability, arranging visits, and managing admissions.
Where appropriate, we help families explore Lionheart School as an alternative.
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Academic planning & tuition for SEND learners
Some students need structured, personalised teaching alongside schooling or while transitioning between settings. We create tailored programmes—literacy, numeracy, study skills, executive function support—delivered by tutors experienced with SEND profiles.
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Alternative provision & homeschooling pathways
When mainstream schooling becomes untenable, we design safe, stabilising interim education. This may involve part-time timetables, therapeutic integration plans, or full homeschooling delivered by Lionheart tutors—ensuring continuity without compromising wellbeing.
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Multi-disciplinary coordination
SEND support is rarely single-strand. We coordinate communication between schools, therapists, clinicians, EPs, and other professionals to ensure the child’s needs are understood consistently and acted upon with clarity.
Who we support
Special educational needs present in many different ways — sometimes subtle, sometimes highly visible, often misunderstood.
We regularly work with students who have:
- Autism spectrum conditions (including PDA profiles and twice-exceptional learners)
- ADHD and attention-related learning differences
- Dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia
- Speech, language & communication needs
- Sensory processing differences
- Working-memory, processing-speed or executive-function challenges
- Complex learning needs linked to medical or developmental conditions
- Co-occurring needs (e.g., autism + anxiety, ADHD + dyslexia)
- Unidentified or emerging needs where families require clarity, assessments and direction
Working with schools, local authorities & other professionals
SEND support is strongest when everyone around the child is aligned. We act as the bridge between families, schools, therapists and local authorities — ensuring communication is clear, evidence is robust, and decisions prioritise the student’s needs.
We regularly:
- Liaise with SENCOs and senior leaders to review provision and progress
- Coordinate with educational psychologists, speech & language therapists, OTs and clinicians
- Attend (or lead) meetings, including annual reviews, behaviour panels and multi-agency discussions
- Translate professional reports into actionable next steps
- Help ensure schools meet their statutory duties and provide appropriate adjustments
- Advise families on when escalation or alternative provision is appropriate
Real stories of progress
SEND Consultancy with Lionheart
“Special educational needs are not a limitation — they’re often a strength. At Lionheart, we take the time to understand each young person properly, then build a bespoke plan that supports challenges and develops strengths.”
Sophia Wybourne Managing Director, Lions Campus
Frequently asked questions
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How do I know if my child needs SEND support?
Many students with SEND are bright and capable, but their needs may present subtly — through fatigue, frustration, inconsistent performance, or difficulty with organisation, language or attention. Our consultants review existing reports, observe patterns, and help families understand whether further assessment or targeted support is appropriate.
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Can you help if we’re unsure which diagnosis is correct?
Yes. Families often come to us with overlapping or unclear profiles. We help interpret previous assessments, identify gaps, and coordinate referrals to trusted educational psychologists, clinical specialists or speech-and-language therapists where needed.
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Do you work alongside schools?
Every week. We liaise with SENCOs, Heads, pastoral teams and external professionals to ensure your child’s needs are properly understood — and that support is consistent across home and school.
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Can you advise on the EHCP process?
Absolutely. We support families through the entire cycle: from deciding whether to apply, to preparing evidence, attending meetings, and reviewing draft plans to ensure they accurately reflect need and provision.
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Is consultancy the same as tutoring?
No — although we often work closely with our tuition team to provide joined-up support. Consultancy is about strategic guidance and planning, not teaching.
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Do you provide interim education if my child cannot attend school?
Yes. We arrange structured, specialist tuition programmes — including homeschooling, hybrid options and placements at Lionheart School — ensuring students remain safe, engaged and progressing while long-term plans are established.
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Can you help with school placement for SEND learners?
Yes. Whether seeking a mainstream school with strong SEND provision, a specialist setting, or a temporary placement during review, we guide families through every stage — shortlisting, preparing applications, and managing communication with schools.
Get in Touch
Specialist SEND support you can trust
Independent advice grounded in experience, evidence and care.
Speak with our team