Help Create the Guide SEND Parents Wish They’d Had Before Secondary School
What you learned the ‘hard way‘ could make another SEND parent’s journey a little easier.
PACE is gathering the experiences of SEND parents and carers to create a practical, parent-led guide about the things families wish they had known earlier.
Why This Guide Matters
Many SEND parents only realise what they needed to know after things have already become difficult.
Parents often tell us that some of the most important things they learned about SEND only became clear after things had already become difficult.
Parents can find themselves learning important things about support, communication, their child’s needs and the SEND system only after difficulties have already arisen.
PACE wants to bring that hindsight together so the families coming behind us can benefit from it earlier.
Who Can Take Part?
We’re looking for parents and carers whose child with SEND is currently at secondary school or has already been through some or all of the secondary-school years.
Your experience can be positive and/or negative
We want to hear from families whose experiences were:
Positive • Easy • Difficult • Mixed • Straightforward • Complicated • Negative • Life-changing • Completely different from what you expected.
You don’t need to be a SEND expert. We’re interested in what you learned as a parent.
The Questionnaire
The questionnaire explores experiences including:
Secondary school transition • SEN Support • EHCPs • reasonable adjustments • attendance and EBSA • behaviour and sanctions • diagnosis and assessment • communication with school • keeping evidence and records • professional advice • trusting your instincts
What Parents Are Telling Us So Far
Early findings from the PACE parent research
One message already emerging from parents is:
Get important things recorded in writing
Parents have told us they wish they’d kept clearer records earlier — including emails, meeting follow-ups, agreed support and important decisions.
These are early findings from a small number of responses and may change as more families contribute.
Does this reflect your experience — or was yours different?
How Long Will It Take?
Main questionnaire: approximately 10–20 minutes
The questionnaire takes approximately 10–20 minutes. You don’t need to prepare anything, and you can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
You don’t need to answer every question or write long responses. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
Your experience will help PACE create a practical, parent-led guide for families approaching secondary school.
Privacy and Safety
Your Experience, Without Identifying Your Child
The questionnaire is designed to gather parent experiences rather than identify individual children, schools or professionals.
Please avoid including names or other information that could identify your child, school staff or other individuals in your answers.
You can read our privacy policy here: