COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Straightforward answers about the tools, the guidance and what happens next.
What is Make SENse for?
Make SENse helps parents and carers find a clearer starting point when exploring SEN support for a child. It brings practical health, education and benefits information together in one place.
What kinds of concerns can I bring?
You can start with communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health, or sensory and/or physical concerns. Needs can overlap. The tools offer general guidance for families in England and Wales, not a diagnosis or an assessment of every condition. Tell us about an area you'd like us to cover more fully through the contact form.
How do the tools work?
Choose Health, Education or Benefits and answer a few short questions. You’ll see a preview, then enter your email to open the full report on screen, where you can print it or save it as a PDF. Your answers shape the guidance, but they do not diagnose your child or decide what support you qualify for.
Who is the guidance for right now?
Families in England and Wales. Services differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so the tools shouldn’t be relied on there. We’re gathering interest before deciding where to expand next.
Do I need a diagnosis or referral?
No. You can start at any stage. The health tool offers first-step guidance if your child hasn’t been referred yet, and help at nursery or school can be based on needs rather than a diagnosis.
Is it free?
Yes. The tools and full reports are free, with no payment or watermark.
Where does the information come from, and how current is it?
The tools draw on public guidance from sources such as the NHS, NICE, GOV.UK and GOV.WALES, and each report links to its sources so you can check the originals. Make SENse is made by parents, not endorsed by those organisations. Rules, services and waiting times can change, particularly locally, so always check the linked source for current details. This is general guidance, not a guarantee of support.
What happens to my answers and email?
Your tool answers are stored without your name, email or any identifier, so they can’t be traced back to you. If you enter your email, we save your address and the wording you agreed to, but it is never linked to your answers. The report opens on screen to print or save; email delivery isn’t available yet. You can unsubscribe from updates at any time.
Is this medical, legal or benefits advice?
No. Make SENse provides general information to help you prepare and ask informed questions. It doesn’t diagnose a condition, decide eligibility or replace professional advice. Health support options are described neutrally, including NHS and private options.