Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Specialist Assessment and Support Service

If the following situations apply and you require an urgent response, please speak to the special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) team on 01274 435750.

• If there is an unexpected breakdown in the usual carer support, for example, the parent or carer has an unplanned hospital admission and there is no extended family able to look after the child. 
• The child has an unexpected hospital admission. 
• There is a sudden change in a medical condition or family circumstance that directly impacts on the ability to attend educational provision.

Information for parents or referrers considering making a request for assessment

If your child is disabled and you want to discuss access to leisure and out-of-school activities then please contact your nearest Family Hub. 

If you want information or advice about wider health services (other than continuing health care) please speak with your general practitioner (GP) and/or school nurse in the first instance. You could also speak to your paediatrician if you have one.

If you are concerned that a child is being harmed or abused you should contact Integrated Front Door on 01274 433999 (practitioners) or 0800 953 0966 (members of the public) - Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm or Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Outside of these times, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01274 431010.

If you are concerned that an adult may be being harmed or abused you should contact Independence Advice Hub on 01274 435400. (Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm or Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm). Outside of these times, please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01274 431010.

If you are a social worker for a looked after child and are considering making a request for an assessment, please discuss this with the headteacher for the Virtual School before making the request.

If your child attends a school or setting then you should speak to the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) before requesting an assessment.

The special educational needs and disability (SEND) specialist assessment and support service

This service covers specialist assessment and support when it appears that a child may require individual special educational, social care and/or continuing health care provision. This happens if their needs cannot be met by mainstream services even with additional support from within those services.

This service includes the following teams:

• Special educational needs (SEN) assessment 
• Children with Complex Health or Disabilities Team (Social Care) 
• Children's continuing health care 
• Specialist Personal Advisors for education, employment and training

There are also close links with the Council's Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service.

We complete assessments for:

• single education, health and care plans (EHCPs) which used to be known as statements or learning disability assessments
• children's social care needs arising from complex health and/or disabilities 
• continuing health care

When making a decision about whether or not an assessment is required we will look at the evidence provided and the SEND Guidance.

Professional/agency

If you are a professional/agency and you wish to make a request for assessment please register on the Profession SEND Portal via the following link and once registered complete and submit the Request an EHC Assessment form.

Request an EHC Assessment

Parents/carers

If you are a parent or carer and you wish to make a request for assessment, please speak with your paediatrician and/or your school special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) in the first instance. Ideally you can work together to make your request. If you still wish to make your request you can do so by registering on the Citizen SEND Portal via the following link and completing and submitting the Request an Education Health and Care Assessment for your Child form.

Request an Education Health and Care Assessment for your child

However, if you are unable to or prefer not to use the Portal, you can submit your request for an Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment via post or send to sendassessrequest@bradford.gov.uk.

Young people

If you are a young person and you wish to make a request, please speak with your school, college and/or supportive person in the first instance. Ideally you can work together to make your request.

If you still wish to make your request you can do so by registering on the Citizen SEND Portal via the following link and completing and submitting the Request an Education Health and Care Assessment for yourself form.

Request an Education Health and Care Assessment for yourself

However, if you are unable to or prefer not to use the Portal, you can submit your request for an Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment via post or send to sendassessrequest@bradford.gov.uk.

Useful contacts

Barnardo's

01274 481183

The Family Fund

For grants for severely disabled children
Write to: The Family Fund, PO Box 50, York YO1 2ZX

Disability Advice Bureau

General benefits advice for disabled people. Telephone: 01274 594173

Recreation - Bradford Sport and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities

Telephone: 01274 437093

Special Needs Database

If your child’s name is registered on the Database, you will receive information about services including Summer Play Schemes

For further information, please get in touch.

Bradford District's Local Offer

Bradford's Local Offer website puts information on services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) all in one place to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.