The Good Schools Guide
Advice services:

SEN education consultants in the UK

Our experienced SEN education consultants help families navigate the complexities of special educational needs (SEN) and find the right educational solution for their child.
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Do you need help finding the right school for a child with SEN?

Our SEN education consultants are specialists in working with families navigating complex decisions around their child’s school and educational support.

We provide expert, independent and realistic guidance to help parents, taking time to understand their options and identify schools where their child will stand the best chance of flourishing and making progress. 

This can include advice on the UK education system, support in choosing between schools, including those for children with complex needs.

Our consultants give trusted, independent advice tailored to your family. If you also need help with school choices for siblings, whether neurodivergent or not, we can help with that, too.

Get in touch

All our services start with a personal call or meeting. Why not give Shari, our senior administrator, or one of her experienced team a call to discuss your circumstances and explore next steps.

Get in touch

Expert SEN education consultants

Finding the right school for a child with special educational needs (SEN) can feel overwhelming. The UK education system offers a wide range of options, from mainstream schools with strong SEN support to specialist resource provision and dedicated SEN schools in the UK 

Our experienced SEN consultants help families understand these options and identify the schools where their child is most likely to thrive. Whether you are navigating the EHCP process, considering state or independent schools, or exploring specialist provision, our SEN education consultants provide clear, impartial advice tailored to your child’s needs. 

We support families at every stage — from early concerns through to complex situations — helping parents make confident decisions based on insight, experience and a deep understanding of SEN education in the UK. 

Find the right school for SEN

  • Understanding SEN support in the UK
  • Advice on how to choose a school for a child with SEN
  • Choosing between mainstream and specialist schools
  • Support with EHCPs and school placement decisions
  • Identifying schools with strong SEN provision
  • Guidance on state and independent SEN schools
  • Support with relocation and SEN school planning
  • Liaising with schools and professionals on your behalf

Who are our SEN education consultants?

Our SEN education consultants are specialists in special educational needs, with extensive experience advising families across a wide range of needs and circumstances. 

Families come to us for expert, independent advice when navigating complex decisions about education and support. Our consultants combine deep knowledge of SEN schools in the UK, SEN provision in mainstream schools and the wider system, including therapists and specialist support. 

We focus on finding solutions that work for the whole family, helping children thrive academically, socially and emotionally. 

  • Fully independent — no commissions from schools or services 

  • Deep expertise in SEN education in the UK 

  • Advice focused on long-term outcomes, not quick placements 

  • Discreet, family-focused consultancy 

How an SEN education consultant can help

Working with an SEN consultant gives families clarity and reassurance when navigating the complexities of the system. From understanding school options to coordinating support, our SEN education consultants help parents make informed decisions with confidence. 

We provide practical, personalised advice based on your child’s needs, helping you avoid common pitfalls and find the right environment for your child to succeed. 

Would you like to find out more?

Our experienced team is on hand to discuss your circumstances and to explore the next steps.

Get in touch

How we support families

We tailor our support depending on where you are in the process, but typically this includes: 

  • An initial consultation to understand your child’s special educational needs (SEN) and your family’s situation

  • Reading reports from specialists – educational psychologists and other therapists – to understand your child’s profile

  • Realistic advice on how school options might look and levels of support available

  • Shortlisting appropriate mainstream or specialist SEN schools

  • Guidance on assessments and school placements with and without an EHCP 

  • Help communicating with schools and professionals

  • Ongoing support through what can often be a complex and evolving process 

  • We recently worked with a family whose child had recently been diagnosed with autism, and they were trying to make sense of a system that suddenly felt incredibly complex. The child was bright but overwhelmed, and previous school experiences hadn’t worked. We took time to understand how autism affected them day to day — what helped, what triggered anxiety, where they thrived. From there, we were able to identify a school where the environment, pace and support felt right.
    Charlotte Phillips, SEN consultant

    • Some of our team

    Headshot of Grace Moody-Stuart, Consultancy director at The Good Schools Guide.

    Grace Moody-Stuart

    Consultancy director

    Grace is director of The Good Schools Guide Education Consultants and has worked for The Guide for 20 years.
    Headshot of Charlotte Phillips, Education Consultant at The Good Schools Guide.

    Charlotte Phillips

    SEND consultancy manager

    Before joining The Good Schools Guide, specialising in SEND, Charlotte wrote about education and family life for The Telegraph, Times and Guardian and more.
    Headshot of Megan Johnson, Assistant Administrator at The Good Schools Guide.

    Megan Johnson

    Administrator

    Megan has recently joined The Good Schools Guide and is a key member of the office team.

    Meet the full team

    FAQs

    Who are The Good Schools Guide education consultants?

    Our education consultants are selected from our most experienced school reviewers. All are parents. Most have a professional background in education and/or a great range of educational experience. You can see all our consultants by clicking on this link.

    What information will you need from me when I contact you?

    Your name and contact details; your child’s name and date of birth; a brief outline of what you need help with; and some thoughts on what matters most to you in terms of their education.

    How does the process work?

    As soon as you get in touch with us, one of our experienced office team will arrange to speak to you to find out more about your circumstances. They will work to match the right consultant to you and offer you a service. All our services start with a meeting with the consultant, usually via video call, but this can be in person. 

    If you decide you would like to become a client of our premier service the consultant will be in touch with you within 24 hours of payment to work out a strategy with you. They will be available to you when you need them until a school place has been secured. 

    When is payment taken?

    One of our office team will ask for payment when you have agreed a service. Payments for all our services are made in advance of the initial meeting with the consultant. Payment is usually made online but we can also take payments over the phone and we accept bank transfers.

    Are education consultants available over the weekend?

    All our consultants try to be flexible and we can always fit in with your timetable or take part in virtual meetings or conference calls.

    Can I meet with the consultant?

    Absolutely. This is usually possible and, depending on where you and the consultant are, we can travel to meet you subject to prior arrangement. Travel costs outside London will only be charged if a consultant needs to travel more than 30 minutes to meet you.

    Do the consultants only recommend independent schools?

    We review state and independent schools and our consultants can give advice about schools in either sector. If you are only interested in state schools, we have a dedicated state school service.

    Do the consultants only recommend schools that are covered in The Good Schools Guide?

    No, although we do find that these are generally the ones people want. However, in some areas of the country or to meet specific requirements, we may well recommend you consider schools that are not – or not yet – in The Guide.

    I want to buy/rent a house according to where good schools are - can you help?

    Absolutely. This is a very common request and we’re always happy to help.

    What geographical areas do your consultants cover?

    We have knowledgeable consultants all over the country (and internationally as part of The Good Schools Guide International) and we can advise you on schools everywhere. Our consultants can draw on the knowledge of the whole UK team as well as on the unique bank of data and other information amassed by The Good Schools Guide.

    Can The Good Schools Guide use its influence to get my child a place at a school?

    Schools are sometimes happy to talk to us when parents have had a curt refusal and we are adept at negotiating a last minute assessment or interview. But although we can open doors, we can never guarantee securing a place for a child at a particular school. And neither – whatever they may say – can anyone else!

    Does The Good Schools Guide take commission from schools it recommends?

    No, and this is what makes us different from agents who have individual financial arrangements with schools. Our advice is entirely independent and based only on what you tell us you want for your children.

    Can the consultant assess my child?

    Assessments are available to all our clients. It is a useful diagnostic tool for you and for us to help decide which schools to suggest or whether additional support will be needed. Tell our administrator if you want to find out more.

    Can I speak to someone about a particular school?

    We will always try to match you with a consultant who personally knows a particular school in which you are interested. If it is a school in The Good Schools Guide this should always be possible.

    Is what I tell my consultant confidential?

    None of our consultants will ever disclose confidential matters unless there is a clear risk of harm to you or to a child in which case they are obliged to discuss breaking confidentiality with you.

    Do you offer group information talks to parents?

    Yes, our experts regularly present to parents within workplaces, schools, social clubs and societies, PTAs, groups of local friends or even online chat groups. We are told it’s just the ticket to demystifying the confusing aspects of the UK education scene. And we just love a Q&A session. Email us to find out more.