About SENDPath

Who we are

SENDPath was built by a Kent parent of a severely autistic child. Over the past several years, we have been through almost every part of the SEND system — the initial concerns, the waiting lists, the assessments, and the paperwork that never seems to end.

We have been through the EHCP process from request to finalisation, including mediation and tribunal. We have navigated DLA applications, fought for appropriate school placements, commissioned private speech and language assessments, occupational therapy reports, and educational psychology assessments when NHS waiting times made it impossible to wait. We have dealt with school transport appeals, annual reviews, and the constant feeling that the system expects you to already know things nobody ever tells you.

Like many SEND parents, I became an expert in a system that should be far easier to navigate. This site is the resource we wished existed from day one. Plain language. Parent-to-parent tone. No clinical jargon. No corporate wrapper. Just the information you actually need, written by someone who understands what it is like to sit up at midnight trying to work out what your child is entitled to.

Our guarantee: Every listing on this site is checked. Every guide is researched against official sources. Every piece of advice comes from real experience or trusted publications. If I don't know something, I'll say so.

We are not a healthcare provider, a law firm, or a benefits adviser. We are parents who've been through it, and we want to make it easier for the families who come after us.

What we do

• Directory of checked services — SEND schools, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, ABA providers, respite care, EHCP solicitors, parent groups, and sensory equipment suppliers across Kent. See how we check listings.
• Rights guides — plain-English summaries of your legal entitlements: EHCPs, school transport, Personal Independence Payments, DLA, SEND tribunals, and more.
• Cost-saving tips — grants, tax credits, Disabled Facilities Grants, Blue Badge, Motability, and other schemes many SEND families don't know they can access.
• Community-first content — we don't write for algorithms. We write for parents sitting up at 11pm trying to work out what their child is entitled to.

Why trust this site?

SENDPath is run by a parent, not a company. We have no shareholders, no investors, and no clinical agenda. But we take accuracy seriously, and here is how we hold ourselves accountable:

• Content checked against official sources — rights guides and legal information are reviewed against GOV.UK, IPSEA guidance, and Kent County Council publications. We cross-reference, and we update when the rules change.
• Crisis pages include verified helplines — every phone number and link on our crisis support page is checked against the official source before publication.
• Affiliate content is separated from rights content — if a page contains affiliate links, it is clearly marked. Product recommendations never appear on rights guides, legal pages, or crisis support pages.
• Editorial code: "Rights First, Commerce Second" — if a piece of content could help a family understand their rights or save money, it gets written whether or not it generates any revenue. That is a promise.
• Directory listings are transparent — we explain exactly what "Listed on SENDPath" and "Claimed listing" mean, and what we do and do not check. Read our full listing methodology.

Your rights as a SEND family

The SEND Code of Practice (2015) gives families significant legal rights — many of which local authorities are slow to proactively explain. Here are the key ones:

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

If your child has complex needs that cannot be met within mainstream school resources, you can request an EHCP assessment from Kent County Council. The LA must respond within 6 weeks and, if agreed, complete the assessment within 20 weeks. You have a right to appeal any decision to the SEND Tribunal.

Key resource: IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) provides free legal advice on EHCPs.

School transport

Kent County Council has a duty to provide free school transport for eligible SEND children. Eligibility depends on age, distance, and the nature of the child's needs. Decisions can be challenged.

Short breaks / respite care

Under Section 25 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, local authorities must publish a Short Breaks Statement and provide services. Many families don't know they can request this formally.

DLA and financial support

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for disabled children under 16. It has two components — care and mobility — and is not means-tested. Many eligible families never claim it.

Who can claim DLA?

• Children under 16 who need significantly more care, supervision, or help with mobility than a non-disabled child of the same age.
• Applies to autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and many other conditions.
• The condition does not need to be formally diagnosed — it must be assessed on care needs.

What else could you be entitled to?

• Carer's Allowance — if you spend 35+ hours/week caring for a disabled child.
• Child Tax Credit / Universal Credit disability additions — premium payments for disabled children.
• Blue Badge — for children with significant mobility needs (automatic eligibility with higher rate DLA mobility).
• Disabled Facilities Grant — up to £30,000 for adaptations to your home.
• Motability — lease a car using the mobility component of DLA.

Our editorial principles

• Rights First, Commerce Second — content serves families, not advertisers.
• No medical advice — we describe services, not treatments.
• No legal advice — we summarise rights, not provide legal opinions.
• No financial advice — we signpost benefits, not advise on personal finances.
• Listings are not endorsements — inclusion in our directory does not mean we recommend a provider. Read our listing standards.
• Content reviewed against official sources — including GOV.UK, IPSEA guidance, and Kent County Council publications.
• Parent tone — we write for tired, stressed parents at 11pm, not for policy professionals.

Contact us

Want to suggest a listing, report an error, or get in touch? Contact us here or email hello@sendpath.uk.