Back-to-school checklist for families with disabled children

7 mins read

Monday 10 August 2026

The new school year begins this week in some councils in Scotland and is approaching soon elsewhere. Many families are buying uniforms, packing school bags and getting back into routines. But if your child is disabled or has additional support/learning needs, they can be a lot more to think about.

Whether your child is starting a new school, moving class or simply returning after the summer holiday, taking a little time to prepare now can help make the transition easier.

We’ve put together this back-to-school checklist for families across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Every child is different, so not every point will apply to your family. We hope it helps you feel more prepared for the new term.

1. Check your child’s education support is up-to-date

Every UK nation has its own education system and support plans, so it’s worth checking that everything is in place before term starts.

Ask yourself:

  • Does your child’s education support plan still reflect their current needs?
  • Have any recent assessments, diagnoses or reports been shared with school?
  • If your child has a formal support plan, has it been reviewed recently and are you happy with the agreed support?

Support plans vary across the UK, including:

2. Make contact with the school before the first day

Starting the conversation early can help everyone feel more confident.

It may help to:

  • Introduce yourself to your child’s new teacher or support staff.
  • Find out who your main point of contact will be.
  • Share any important updates from over the summer.
  • Check you’re signed up to any school communication apps or systems.

If your child is anxious about change, ask whether they can see photos of their classroom or teachers before term starts. Schools often have email addresses on their websites where you can contact someone without needing to call an office. Alternatively, or you can use the dedicated communication app/platform you would normally use.

3. Review medical and healthcare arrangements

If your child has medical needs, it’s important that everyone knows what support they’ll need from day one.

Check that:

  • Any healthcare plan has been reviewed and shared with relevant staff.
  • Medication is in date, clearly labelled and ready to be taken into school if needed.
  • Emergency medication is available where required.
  • Ask for any old/out of date medication has been handed back to you.
  • Staff have received any necessary training to support your child safely.
  • Emergency contact details are up to date.

4. Confirm transport arrangements

If your child receives home-to-school transport, don’t assume everything is unchanged from last year. Check:

  • Whether your local authority, Education Authority and/or transport provider has confirmed transport arrangements.
  • Pick-up and drop-off times.
  • Whether there are any new drivers or escorts.
  • That transport staff understand your child’s communication, medical or sensory needs.

If something doesn’t feel right, contact your local authority/trust as soon as possible.

5. Check equipment and technology

Summer is a good time to make sure everything is working properly.

This could include:

  • AAC or communication devices.
  • Hearing equipment.
  • Tablets or laptops used for learning.
  • Wheelchairs or mobility equipment.
  • Sensory aids such as ear defenders, fidget tools or weighted items.

It’s also worth labelling equipment, clothing and uniform to help prevent items being lost.

6. Think about reasonable adjustments

Many disabled children and children with additional needs benefit from reasonable adjustments that help remove barriers to learning and school life.

Depending on where you live in the UK, schools have legal duties to support disabled pupils and make appropriate or ‘reasonable’ adjustments.

Think about whether your child needs support with things like:

  • Toileting or personal care.
  • Eating or drinking.
  • Rest breaks.
  • Sensory regulation.
  • Managing fatigue.
  • Movement around school.
  • Exam access arrangements (where relevant).
  • Flexible timetables or transition support.
  • Clothing/uniform.

Check the relevant policies relating to your child’s needs on the school website before requesting adjustments that are needed.

If your child’s needs have changed, speak to school before term begins rather than waiting.

7. Prepare for the school routine

Returning after six weeks can be a big adjustment.

To help your child prepare, you could:

  • Gradually move bedtime and morning routines back towards school hours.
  • Talk through what the first day will look like.
  • Use visual timetables or social stories if these help your child. You can find many good social stories on Twinkl’s website, as well as making your own using Canva, for example.
  • Practise the school journey if they’re starting somewhere new.
  • Pack school bags and organise uniform a day or two before term starts.

Remember that it can take time to settle back into routine, and that’s OK.

8. Don’t forget the practical things

A few final checks can help avoid last-minute stress.

Have you remembered to:

  • Label school uniform and PE kit? If you have a child that likes to take their shoes off for example at school, it’s always worth labelling inside the shoes too.
  • Check whether any clothing or footwear needs replacing?
  • Update emergency contact details?
  • Tell school about any changes at home or in your child’s circumstances?
  • Check dates for inset days, appointments or school events?

9. Benefits and financial support

The start of the school year can be expensive, and disabled children and their families often have extra costs.

It is worth checking your eligibility, if you don’t know it already, for the following:

10. Lunch, snacks and dietary needs

This can be a huge issue for many families. Especially those with children living with ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Check the school’s policy online, especially where a child needs a specific drink, in their water bottle but the school has a water-only policy. Consider the following:

  • Does school know about any allergies?
  • Have safe foods changed over the summer?
  • Is a packed lunch agreed if needed?
  • Are feeding plans up to date?
  • Does your child need support at lunchtime?

11. Friendships and well-being

Returning to school can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Children may worry about making friends again, coping with change or moving into a new class or school.

Parent carers could think about:

  • Arranging a playdate before school starts.
  • Looking at photos of school.
  • Talking positively about familiar adults.
  • Recognising that settling in may take time.

12. Changes over the summer

Has anything changed since last term?

For example:

  • New diagnosis.
  • Medication changes.
  • Mobility changes.
  • Behaviour changes.
  • Communication changes.
  • Puberty.
  • Sleep difficulties.

Schools won’t automatically know unless someone tells them. If things have changed, it’s worth getting in touch.

13. If it’s not perfect, don’t panic

The first few weeks of term are often a settling-in period for everyone. Even with careful planning, things may not go exactly as expected.

If something isn’t working, try speaking to school/college as early as possible. Small adjustments made early can often prevent bigger problems later.

Every child settles at their own pace, and it’s perfectly normal for routines to take a little while to fall back into place.

If you’re worried, ask for advice

You can find information and advice for parent carers across the UK about education, additional support and your child’s rights on our website.

See our updated guide to going back to school in Wales [PDF].