SEND Defender

Main information

Service categories: Information, advice and advocacy

Service URL: https://www.senddefender.co.uk

Secondary URL: https://www.senddefender.co.uk/services

SEND Defender is a specialist SEN advocacy service supporting parents and carers of autistic children and young people across England. The service is delivered entirely remotely, so families can access support regardless of location.

Kate, the founder, is Level 3 SEN law qualified and works directly with families on school challenges, EHCP needs assessments, EHCP plan reviews and SEND Tribunal proceedings, grounding all advice in the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice 2015 and the Equality Act 2010.

Kate is also Audhd and a SEN mum to three children, two of whom are autistic and experienced school avoidance before finding the right alternative provision, so she understands both the legal process and the lived reality of navigating it as a parent.

Beyond direct casework, Kate campaigns for SEND reform, raising awareness of families' legal rights through public speaking, demonstrations and a strong social media presence, and engages with policy makers to push for stronger protection of SEN legal rights at a systemic level.

Services include

FREE SEN Guide for parents
SEN Clarity Call, a focused session to help parents understand their options and next steps
SEN Deep Dive and Action Plan, an in depth session producing a tailored written plan
SEND Support Explained, a self paced course that breaks down what support is available in schools without an EHCP, the EHC needs assessment and how to challenge decisions into clear, manageable steps for parents who want to understand the system at their own pace.
Bespoke one to one support is also available for families who need ongoing advocacy through a specific case.

All services are designed to be accessible for autistic and neurodivergent parents themselves, with clear, step by step guidance and no assumption of prior knowledge of the SEND system.