School Visits, Advice & Support
Choosing the right school for your child can be confusing, especially when considering special educational needs. We can guide you every step of the way, offering unbiased advice, arranging school visits, making sure you know what questions to ask, and helping you weigh up your options – so you can make confident, informed decisions that truly meet your child’s needs.
How We Help
- Choosing between mainstream and specialist provision
- How to decide when it's the right time to transition
- Knowing what questions to ask when you visit your shortlisted schools
- What to look for in a specialist educational setting
Helping You Decide
Whether your child is 4 or 18, whether they’re in mainstream or special provision, whether you’re just starting this journey or feeling completely lost – there ARE options, and you don’t have to make all the decisions by yourself.
We’ve spent years building relationships with schools across the UK. From specialist autism provisions to therapeutic communities, from small nurturing environments to schools with cutting-edge facilities, which means we’re well placed to know that your child’s perfect school is out there, and we can help you find it.
Beyond the Brochure
As a parent of a child with additional needs, I’m fully aware that choosing the right school is crucial. While websites can showcase impressive facilities, the real test is how your child responds to the environment.
The right school should feel welcoming and understanding of YOUR child’s unique needs.
We regularly visit schools to get a better understanding of what they offer and to build relationships. This helps when referring a child or knowing what’s available when the time comes.
If you need help planning a school visits or understanding what to look for, I’d be happy to connect and maybe share the insights we already hold.
What to Look For
Here’s your essential checklist for school visits:
- Do teachers speak kindly to students, and is there genuine warmth in their approach?
- What are the noise levels like during different times of the day?
- Is there outdoor spaces, and how is the supervision managed?
- Do students seem calm and engaged?
FAQ's
We have hopefully answered any questions you have on our service to support you with school visits or transition, but if not – please get in touch, we’ll be happy to help!
How can you help me choose the right school for my child with SEND?
We support families through the full school choice process, including deciding between mainstream and specialist provision, understanding your child’s special educational needs, preparing for school visits, and talking through options so you can make confident, informed decisions.
Do you help with both mainstream and specialist provision schools?
Yes. We support families considering mainstream schools, specialist provision, and alternative education settings. Our advice is unbiased and focused entirely on finding the right educational placement for your child’s needs.
Why is choosing a specialist provision school so challenging?
Specialist schools can differ widely in their approach, environment, and level of support. What suits one child may not suit another, and school websites don’t always show what daily life is really like — which is why professional guidance can be invaluable.
Can you help me prepare for school visits?
Absolutely. We help you identify which schools to visit, prepare key questions to ask, and understand what to observe during a visit — including staff interactions, sensory environment, noise levels, and student engagement.
What should I look for when visiting a specialist school?
Beyond facilities, look for how staff communicate with pupils, how calm and structured the environment feels, how transitions are managed, and whether students appear settled and supported. The right school should feel safe, welcoming, and responsive to your child’s individual needs.
How do you know which schools might be suitable for my child?
We’ve built long-standing relationships with schools across the UK, including autism-specific provision, therapeutic schools, and small nurturing settings. Regular school visits and up-to-date knowledge allow us to recommend environments where children are more likely to thrive.
How do I know if my child needs to move to a specialist provision?
If your child is persistently unhappy, overwhelmed, or unable to access learning despite support in their current setting, it may be time to explore alternative provision. We help families consider next steps carefully, without pressure.
Do you support children and young people of all ages?
Yes. We work with children from early years through to post-16 and young people up to age 25, including those in mainstream education, specialist provision, or currently out of school.
Will you give honest advice about whether a school is the right fit?
Yes. Our guidance is always honest, independent, and child-centred. If a school doesn’t feel right for your child — even if it looks good on paper — we’ll help you explore more suitable options.
What Next?
Find out if I’m the right person for you
I offer a FREE 15-minute chat, that quickly allows me to understand your current situation and let you know, honestly, if I can help. If not, I can usually point you in the right direction.
What our clients say
We feel the end is almost in sight!
Thank you very much for your time; you have really helped us to rationalise our thoughts with your comprehensive service. We have spent three years fighting to get the help our daughter needs and finally we feel the end is almost in sight!
It felt like Lorna ‘knew’ our child, without even having met her
“It felt like Lorna ‘knew’ our child, without even having met her which has been very important in helping guide our journey. Lorna was also very adaptable to move quickly within our time frame which we very much appreciated. Very highly recommended.”
Lorna has been caring, professional and non-judgemental
From the outset Lorna has been caring, professional and non-judgemental, and committed to helping me find the most appropriate education for him. I had what I thought were a lot of “silly” queries and they have never been treated as such.