Families looking for a new school for their children often visit a school website long before they speak to anyone in person. For parents of children with additional needs, the SEND page is usually the first place they check, and it shapes how confident they feel about your school. There are statutory school website requirements for SEND information so this is something that is important for both inspectors but, more day to day, parents and families.

Honest, clear SEND content helps families feel welcome, informed, and understood, and it shows that your approach to inclusion is lived out in day-to-day practice. This guidance is specifically for children and young people with educational needs and disabilities.

This post provides an overview of best practices for SEND page content, offering a clear summary of key requirements and strategies for effective communication.

The following school SEND page guidance is designed as a practical guide and resource to help schools create SEND content that builds trust from the moment someone lands on the page.

A Warm, Human Introduction

Families and carers often arrive at the SEND page feeling unsure or anxious. A calm, friendly introduction helps them settle quickly. Explain your commitment to inclusion, how children and young people are supported, how parents and carers are involved, and what happens when someone contacts the school.

This simple start does more than you realise. It signals that your school understands the feelings behind the questions and helps families and carers confidently navigate the SEND page.

Make Your SENDCo Easy to Find

Parents want to know who they will speak to and how to reach them. Include the SENDCo’s name, role, contact details, and a short explanation of their part in supporting children and families. A photo makes a big difference, it helps families feel more confident making that first call or sending an email.

It is also a legal requirement to publish this information.

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Explain Support in Plain Language

Support systems can feel intimidating when written in technical language. Parents want a clear picture of what the support system looks like for learners with SEND in your setting, how staff work together, and how you involve families in decisions.

Short, everyday explanations build trust far more effectively than long blocks of specialised terms.

Examples that help:

• The process for planning and reviewing support
• The range of provision available for students with SEND
• How teaching staff collaborate to support development
• How teachers and specialists work together
• How the school listens to parents
• Ways children are included across school life

These small details reassure families that support is organised and meaningful. The school regularly reflects on and reviews the effectiveness of its support system.

Make the Graduated Approach Easy to Understand

This part is important, as it is UK-specific and often left unexplained. Schools in England follow the Graduated Approach, which is built around four steps: assess – plan – do – review. The wording comes directly from the SEND Code of Practice used across the country.

Parents often see the phrase without any explanation, so a simple description helps a lot. For example:

• Assess – assessment is a key part of understanding a child’s needs
• Plan – agreeing the support that will help
• Do – putting the support into place each day
• Review – checking progress with families and adjusting things if needed

Schools are required to publish information about their Graduated Approach on their website to comply with statutory requirements.

The Graduated Approach should be regularly reviewed and updated annually to ensure it remains effective and current.

Explaining this in plain language removes unnecessary barriers and helps families understand what will happen and when.

Keep Policies and Reports in One Place

Families shouldn’t have to jump around the website to find your SEND Policy, SEND Information Report, Accessibility Plan, or other required sets of documents. All statutory documents must be published and kept together on the SEND page, with each document clearly linked for easy navigation. These documents should be kept in line with statutory requirements and updated according to a regular schedule to ensure compliance and transparency.

Maintained schools and mainstream schools have specific requirements to publish information about special educational needs, special educational provision, and disabilities. This includes ensuring that all relevant policies and reports are accessible, up to date, and demonstrate the school’s commitment to supporting students with disabilities and special educational needs.

Be sure to add the review date to each document so families know it is current.

Provide Clear, Real Examples of Support

Short stories or general examples help families imagine what support looks like in practice. These might include how a child is supported through transitions, how staff adjust classroom approaches, how the school communicates when things feel difficult, or how achievements are celebrated. These examples provide evidence of the support available within the school.

The school ensures access to support for all pupils, so every pupil can benefit from the resources and guidance provided.

These examples help parents picture everyday school life without identifying individual children.

Use Photos That Show Real Inclusion

Parents often form an impression before reading a single sentence. Real images of children learning together, calm classrooms, warm staff interactions, and inclusive moments across your school speak loudly. Including photos, whether you are from a primary school and secondary school setting, can help illustrate inclusion and showcase how your school supports all students.

Avoid generic stock images – families will notice the difference.

Check That Every Link Works

SEND pages usually have more links than most other sections. These might include the Local Offer, Early Help, charities, therapies, or support groups. Broken links quickly undermine trust, so check them regularly. An introduction to a section of links can go a long way to make the content feel less dry and easier to understand.

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Make the Page Easy to Use on a Phone

Most families use mobile devices when searching for schools. Clear headings, simple layouts, and short sections help users find information quickly. Also, make sure documents open easily on smaller screens.

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Keep the Tone Kind and Calm

The tone of your SEND page matters just as much as the information itself. Many families arrive carrying anxieties, past experiences, or uncertainty about what the future holds. A calm, steady tone reassures them that they’re in the right place and that your school understands the emotions behind their questions.

When the writing feels warm and human, families feel seen. It shows that your school listens, takes care over the small details, and recognises the importance of partnership. This softens the experience for parents who may already feel overwhelmed by long processes, meetings, forms, or unfamiliar terminology.

A thoughtful tone helps in practical ways too. It makes technical information easier to understand, reduces confusion, and encourages parents to reach out sooner rather than later. When your SEND page gives the sense that conversations will be handled with patience and respect, families are far more likely to contact you openly.

This is one of the most effective parts of strong school SEND page guidance; not because of a specific set of words, but because of the feeling your writing leaves behind. Families remember how it made them feel long after they click away.

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Final Thoughts

Creating a SEND page is more than a place to upload mandatory documents; it’s a reflection of your values, your approach to inclusive education, and the experience you want families to have from the moment they begin exploring your school.

Leaders and senior leaders play a cornerstone role in developing and maintaining an effective SEND page, ensuring it is authentic and meets the needs of all pupils. As they say, culture comes from the top.

If you’d like support reviewing your SEND content or shaping it in a way that feels warm, honest, and reassuring for families, please feel free to get in touch. We offer services to review this type of content and offer strategic advice.