Did you know what support was available for you and your child?

Interesting discussion @Lakey88. Speaking as a parent of two SEN children, I can tell you that the support that was offered when both started school was essentially non-existent. From my perspective, supportive statements from someone who had training and understanding of the challenges my children faced would have been absolutely fantastic. We've struggled to even get our children assessed because of the enormous waiting lists, so every piece of constructive evidence would have been invaluable. Instead we received a statement from a teacher who didn't believe in autism, but regularly complained that my daughter's 'ticks' and 'ritualistic behaviours' were a nuisance and disruptive.

One of the huge issues we faced (and from what others we've spoken to describe) and has been echoed by @66Mustang, is the lack of knowledge as to what support should be available. For example we'd meet with teachers and be asked a very generic "well what support would you like?". When you don't know what's available or what can be done to support your child it leaves you very much on the back-foot. 

As @66Mustang and others have said, it often seems that unless you make a huge fuss and demand support, none will be offered. Obviously I understand that schools work within constraints, but not all parents are able to offer the same level of fight and it shouldn't mean that their child should miss out on the support.