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This article was first published in October 2019

It can be difficult to tell if your child has Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), especially before or during the first year of primary school. Here's child psychologist Laverne Antrobus' tips for the best ways to spot SEND.

Laverne's tips

• Trust your instincts and talk to an expert – this might be a health visitor or the Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCo) at your child’s school or nursery. They can talk you through the process of getting any additional support that might be needed.

• Ask your local authority for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Laverne Antrobus is a Child Psychologist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

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