SEND Regulations 2014: A Simple Guide for Parents

In this guide, we will explain what the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 actually say, why they matter to your family, and where to go if you need extra support. We have kept the language plain and jargon-free, so it should make sense whether you are new to the SEND system or have been navigating it for years.

What Are the SEND Regulations 2014?

The SEND Regulations 2014 (sometimes shortened to SEND regs 2014) are a set of legal rules that sit underneath a bigger law called the Children and Families Act 2014. While the Act sets out the broad rights that children with SEND have, the regulations fill in the practical detail. They explain exactly how long a council has to make decisions, what must be included in an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, and what happens if a family disagrees with a decision.

Think of it like a rulebook that sits alongside a set of guidelines called the SEND Code of Practice. Together, they make sure every local authority in England follows the same process, rather than making it up as they go along.

What Do the SEND Regulations 2014 Cover?

The regulations are detailed, but they mostly organise themselves around a few key areas that matter most to families:

• How and when a council should carry out an EHC needs assessment.
• What information must appear in a child's EHC plan, and how it is reviewed each year.
• The role of a school's SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), who is responsible for organising support in the classroom.
• The "Local Offer", which is the information every council must publish about the SEND support available in their area.
• What happens if a family and a council cannot agree, including mediation and appeals to a tribunal.

How the EHC Plan Process Works

One of the most useful parts of the SEND Regulations 2014 is that they set clear deadlines. Councils cannot simply take as long as they like. Here is a summary of the key stages and their legal timescales.

If a council misses these deadlines without a good reason, that is worth raising, because the regulations exist to stop children being left waiting indefinitely.

Requesting an EHC Needs Assessment

Under the regulations, a request for an assessment can come from a parent, a young person themselves (if they are aged 16 to 25), or a professional such as a teacher or doctor acting on a family's behalf. Once a request lands with the council, the 6-week clock described above begins. If you are unsure how to put a request together, our step-by-step guide to the EHCP application process walks through it in plain English.

Annual Reviews Under the SEND Regulations 2014

The regulations are clear that an EHC plan is not a one-off document. It must be checked and updated at least once every 12 months, so that the support written into it keeps up with a child's changing needs. These meetings, known as annual reviews, bring together parents, the school, and other professionals involved in a child's care. Preparing well for one of these meetings can make a real difference to the outcome.

What Happens If You Disagree?

Not every decision goes the way a family hopes, and the SEND Regulations 2014 set out what to do next. In most cases, you must first consider mediation, an informal meeting with an independent mediator that tries to resolve the disagreement without going to court. If that does not work, families have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.

GOV.UK's guide to getting extra SEN help explains this process in more detail, including how personal budgets and independent supporters can help along the way.

Getting Help With the SEND Regulations 2014

The rules exist to protect children, but that does not make them easy to navigate on your own, especially when you are already juggling appointments, paperwork, and everyday family life. Many parents find it helpful to have someone in their corner who understands the process from the inside.

That is exactly what we do. Our EHCP support service guides families through every stage of the EHCP journey, from writing a strong assessment request to checking a draft plan for gaps or unlawful phrasing. If you would like to talk through your situation, we offer a free consultation to see how we can help.

The Bottom Line

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 might sound like dry legal text, but they exist for a good reason: to give children with SEND a fair, timely, and properly supported path through the education system. Knowing the basics, what an EHC plan is, what timescales apply, and what your rights are if things go wrong, puts you in a much stronger position to advocate for your child.

If you need more information, you don't have to work it out alone. ACE-SEN's team is here to help, in person or over Zoom. Book your free virtual consultation now.