How does the school share my child's SEND records?

If your child has dyslexia or another special educational need, you might worry about who can see their school records. It is a common concern, especially when you are searching for answers late at night.

In the UK, your child's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) records can only be seen by people who directly support their education and wellbeing. This includes their class teachers, the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), and school leaders. Under new rules, other public services like health professionals or local authorities can also share this data, but only to make sure your child gets the right support.

The new rules on information sharing: What is changing?

The government is updating how schools and public services work together. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act has introduced a new information-sharing duty.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published draft statutory guidance on this change, which you can read on the Information sharing duty statutory guidance consultation page.

This new duty is not about snooping on families. It is designed to stop children falling through the cracks.

Previously, different services like schools, health visitors, and social care often worked in silos. A school might not know that a child was receiving specialist speech therapy outside of school. The new rules make it easier for these professional teams to share vital information quickly, so your child gets joined-up help.

Why schools share SEND and support data

Schools do not share your child's dyslexia support records to label them. They do it to protect them and to make sure they can learn.

When a school shares SEND data, it usually does so to:

• Help a new teacher understand your child's learning plan at the start of a school year.
• Pass on vital support strategies when your child moves to a new school.
• Apply for extra time or a reader in exams like Key Stage 2 SATs.
• Secure specialist equipment or funding from the local authority.

If you want to know how schools prepare for national assessments with struggling readers, you can read our KS2 SATs Dates 2027 parent guide.

Sharing this data ensures that your child does not have to start from scratch every time they meet a new teacher or specialist.

Your rights as a parent: Consent and privacy

You still have strong rights when it comes to your child's personal data. The law protects your family's privacy.

The DfE processes personal data for parents and carers under strict legal frameworks. You can read more about how your own data is handled in the official DfE privacy information guide.

Here are the key facts about your rights:

• The right to be informed: The school must tell you what data they collect about your child and why they hold it. This is usually written in the school's privacy notice on their website.
• The right of access: You can ask to see the records the school holds about your child.
• The right to accuracy: If a record says your child has a different diagnosis or the details are wrong, you can ask the school to correct it.

If you want to request these documents, we have written a step-by-step guide on how to request your child's school records under GDPR. If you need to see what the government holds centrally, you can also read our guide on how to request your child's school records from the DfE.

Practical steps: How to ask your school what they hold

You do not need to wait for a formal meeting to understand what is on your child's record. You can start a calm, constructive conversation with the school today.

1. Email the SENCo: Send a short, polite email. Ask for a copy of your child's current learning plan or SEND profile.
2. Ask about access: Ask who in the school has access to this plan. Usually, it is just the staff who teach your child.
3. Request a meeting: If you are worried about information being shared with outside agencies, ask for a quick chat to discuss your concerns.

Remember, you are your child's best advocate. Working in partnership with the school is the best way to keep support consistent.

Finding the right support at home

While schools manage the official records and classroom support, many parents look for gentle ways to help their child build reading confidence at home.

At Dyslexia.ai, we build Lexy, an app designed for multisensory structured literacy. It is informed by Orton-Gillingham principles and helps children practice phonics and reading fluency in a low-stress way.

Lexy is not a formal diagnosis or a replacement for school support, but it can be a helpful tool for daily practice. You can read our FAQ page to see how it fits alongside school support.