Dyscalculia and SEN support

Our specialist SEN solicitors help families address the educational impact of dyscalculia, from securing tailored provision to navigating EHCPs and local authority decisions.

Helping children with dyscalculia access the right educational support.

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects how a child understands and processes numbers and mathematical concepts. It can make areas such as counting, calculations, estimating, understanding quantities, time and money particularly challenging. The impact varies between children and can affect confidence, learning and everyday independence.

Where a child’s difficulties have a significant impact on their education, they may require additional SEN Support or, where their needs cannot be met through ordinarily available provision, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Trusted and nationally recognised special educational needs specialists with decades of experience.
Clear, practical support at every stage, helping families navigate complex SEN processes.

Extensive experience across all SEN appeals, including EHCPs, school placements, and SEND Tribunal proceedings.
Transparent and flexible fee structures, including capped fee options where appropriate.

Why might a child with Dyscalculia need an EHCP?

An EHCP may be appropriate where a child’s specific learning difficulties in mathematics are having a significant impact on their education and require provision beyond what their school can ordinarily provide.

For example, a child may need specialist teaching, intensive or sustained intervention, significant adaptations to how mathematics is taught, additional adult support or input from specialist professionals. This may be particularly relevant where difficulties with numeracy occur alongside other needs, such as dyslexia, ADHD, language or processing difficulties.

The key consideration is not simply whether a child has dyscalculia, but whether their individual special educational needs require provision through an EHCP.

EHCP support and benefits for children with Dyscalculia

An EHCP can provide a clear framework for the educational provision required to meet a child’s individual needs. Depending on the child’s circumstances, this may include:

Specialist maths teaching tailored to the child’s specific difficulties.
Targeted and sustained interventions to develop mathematical understanding and skills.
Additional adult support where necessary to access learning.
Adaptations to teaching and learning materials to make mathematical concepts more accessible.
Support with working memory, processing or mathematical language where these contribute to the child’s difficulties.
Input from specialist professionals where appropriate.
Clear outcomes and specified provision based on the child’s individual needs.
Regular reviews to consider whether the provision remains appropriate.

Dyscalculia FAQs

What is dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty involving persistent difficulties with understanding and working with numbers. It can affect a child’s ability to recognise quantities, understand number relationships, remember mathematical facts and procedures, and solve mathematical problems.

Children may also experience difficulties with practical applications of maths, such as understanding money, measurements, time or timetables. Dyscalculia is distinct from simply finding maths difficult, and the severity and presentation can vary between individuals.

What other needs do children with dyscalculia typically have?

Dyscalculia can occur alongside other developmental and learning difficulties. A child may also have:

Dyslexia, which can affect reading, writing and information processing.
ADHD, which may affect attention, working memory and executive functioning.
Developmental language disorder, which can make mathematical language and word problems more difficult to understand.
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD/dyspraxia), which may affect coordination and other aspects of learning.
Working memory or processing difficulties, which can make it harder to retain and apply mathematical information.

These needs can interact and may increase the level of support a child requires in education.

What challenges might families face when securing support from the local authority?

Parents may face difficulties where there is disagreement about the extent of their child’s needs or the level of provision required. Common issues can include:

A refusal to carry out an EHC needs assessment.
A refusal to issue an EHCP on the basis that existing SEN Support is sufficient.
Disagreement about the level of specialist support required.
An EHCP that does not properly reflect the child’s needs.
Insufficiently specific provision within an EHCP.
Disagreement about the most appropriate educational placement.

Where parents believe their child’s needs are not being properly recognised, specialist SEN legal advice can help them understand their options and, where appropriate, challenge the local authority’s decision.

What happens if my child with dyscalculia doesn’t have an EHCP?

A child does not need an EHCP to receive SEN Support. Schools should identify children with SEN and put appropriate support in place to help them access education.

However, where a child’s needs are more significant or complex and cannot be adequately met through ordinarily available SEN Support, parents can request an EHC needs assessment. An EHCP may provide a more formal framework for identifying the child’s needs and the special educational provision required to meet them.

How do I apply for an EHCP for a child with dyscalculia?

Parents can request an EHC needs assessment from their local authority. The request should explain your child’s individual difficulties, how these affect their education and why the support currently available is not sufficient.

A specialist SEN solicitor can help parents understand the legal criteria, assess the available evidence and present a clear request to the local authority. If the local authority refuses to assess, there may be a right of appeal.

What can I do if I’m unhappy with my child’s EHCP or the LA’s decision regarding the EHCP?

Parents can challenge certain local authority decisions relating to EHC needs assessments and EHCPs. This can include a refusal to carry out an assessment, a refusal to issue an EHCP or disagreements about the contents of an existing plan, including the provision or educational placement.

Appeals are generally made to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). There are specific procedures and deadlines, so obtaining legal advice promptly can help you understand your options and the evidence required.

How can solicitors help families and children with dyscalculia?

Solicitors can help families understand their child’s SEN rights and secure educational provision that reflects their individual needs. This may include:

Advising on EHC needs assessments and EHCP applications.
Challenging a refusal to assess or issue an EHCP.
Reviewing whether an EHCP properly reflects the child’s specific learning difficulties and educational needs.
Challenging inadequate or insufficient provision.
Advising on educational placement disputes.
Supporting parents with SEND Tribunal appeals where appropriate.

Why use our special educational needs solicitors?

Specialist experience in SEN law: Our solicitors have extensive experience advising families on the full range of special educational needs legal processes. Our expertise ensures you receive clear, accurate advice grounded in a detailed understanding of the law and how local authorities apply it in practice.

Focused, practical solutions: We take the time to understand your child’s individual needs and circumstances. Our advice is tailored to help you secure the right support, whether that means strengthening an EHCP, challenging inadequate provision, or appealing a local authority decision.

Supportive and collaborative approach: The SEN process can be overwhelming. We work closely with families, schools, professionals and other advisers to ensure all evidence and communication is aligned and coherent. This collaborative approach helps streamline the process and strengthens your case.

A leading full-service law firm: Boyes Turner is recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a leading law firm. As a full-service firm, our specialist teams can support you with related legal needs where required, including Court of Protection, community care, medical negligence and private wealth, ensuring a cohesive and coordinated approach to your care.

Contact us

If you would like advice about a related matter, please complete the form and one of our SEN specialists will be in touch as soon as possible.

Please note we do not offer legal aid. Read about our fees.

Or give us a call:

0118 467 6547

Special educational needs insights

Our special educational needs solicitors

Our SEN case studies

What our clients say

Tribunal for placement

Laxmi helped with my son tribunal case in regard to section I of his EHCP. Our tribunal got brought forward by 6 months early, not giving us much time to get everything in place. Laxmi was great and said we can do it even with just little time left to get prepared and ready for the Tuesday. As a parent, I didn’t know what we needed to send or do, Laxmi took the time to explain everything to us and what we needed to do to prepare for the tribunal. Laxmi went above and beyond to help us and successfully won getting the school we needed for are son to start in September 2024. I would highly recommend Laxmi to take on the local authority in regard to any EHCP appeals. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.

Natalie

What our clients say

We were immediately impressed

We were immediately impressed with James and our initial judgment proved correct as we went on to negotiate with Essex a care package for our daughter. Throughout the process, James supported us and was always on hand to give us excellent advice, source and guide an ISW in writing a report for us, and assist with crafting skilfully worded emails to the Authority. More importantly for us, James was always kind and understanding, and brought a wonderful sense of humour to our meetings. We feel most fortunate to have found him and would not hesitate to recommend him

Kitty Carrick

What our clients say

SEN Tribunal

Laxmi’s exceptional understanding in SEN law combined with her professional, honest and empathic approach gave us the assurance that we had a solicitor who was and would continually do her best on our behalf. We would highly recommend any one seeking a SEN solicitor to use Laxmi.

David Bernstein

What our clients say

Support with the EHCP appeal

We would like to thank the Boyes Turner team, especially Janata Ali, for the exceptional support throughout the process. Just over a year ago we were lost and scared for our child’s future. It is a completely different reality today. Our child is much happier in the new school, with all the support and the quality of teaching, mentoring that he is receiving. It was the right battle to fight. It would not have been possible without Janata’s help, guidance, experience and commitment to our case. We are endlessly grateful, as this means that our child can have a better quality of life now and better prospects in the future.

Boyes Turner Client

What our clients say

SEN support for EHCP

Janata Ali is an expert in n her field which resulted in us winning our case against the local authority to issue an EHCP for our son. Our son will hopefully now thrive and we will be forever grateful for her help and support with our case.

Boyes Turner Client

What our clients say

I would most definitely recommend

James, Laxmi and Daisy, worked so Patrick’s case, due to his very complex profile we had to go through three tribunals. They all worked so hard to secure our son’s placement. I would most definitely recommend James and Laxmi to anyone wishing to pursue the right provision for their young person.

Cath and Phil

What our clients say

I’m thankful

I’m thankful that we found James, without him my son would have been abandoned by his Local Authority. Moving on from college is a stressful process for all the family, & Local Authority knows this & uses this to try & push parents to the limit, by ignoring their responsibility hoping that you will give up . In came James, took pressure off me & onto them . Highly recommend. We won , my son now can start his transition to his next chapter. Thank you.

Rebecca Wallace

What our clients say

James was a pleasure to deal with

We contacted Boyes Turner earlier this year after we ran into a dispute with our local authority. This was about a social care matter and learning disability. The case was handled with professionalism and tact. James was a pleasure to deal with. Clear communication, humour and detailed knowledge of the law in this area.

Andrew

What our clients say

James was knowledgeable but at the same time very approachable

The help and support we received from James for our son’s EHC plan has been absolutely invaluable. With his help, we were able to secure an outcome that suits our child. James was knowledgeable but at the same time very approachable and made a very stressful process much more manageable.

Boyes Turner Client

What our clients say

Guiding us through EHCP and transition

James Pantling-Skeet helped us prepare my daughter’s EHCP to gain a good placement for the future. He was patient, extremely knowledgeable, had brilliant contacts, helped withe emotional upheaval and organised meetings with all parties to keep everything on track. We had the best outcome we could have had due to his professionalism. He was very caring too. He and his team worked tirelessly and answered our queries promptly. I would highly recommend their service.

Boyes Turner Client

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Dyscalculia and SEN support

Helping children with dyscalculia access the right educational support.

Why might a child with Dyscalculia need an EHCP?

EHCP support and benefits for children with Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia FAQs

Why use our special educational needs solicitors?

Contact us

0118 467 6547

Special educational needs insights

Our special educational needs solicitors

Laxmi Patel

James Pantling-Skeet

Rachael Allison

Emma Trevett

Steven Baylis

Janata Ali

Lacie Smith

Rachel Baxter

Daisy Fox-Clarkin

Libby Buxton

Amber Puri

Our SEN case studies

What our clients say

Tribunal for placement

What our clients say

We were immediately impressed

What our clients say

SEN Tribunal

What our clients say

Support with the EHCP appeal

What our clients say

SEN support for EHCP

What our clients say

I would most definitely recommend

What our clients say

I’m thankful

What our clients say

James was a pleasure to deal with

What our clients say

James was knowledgeable but at the same time very approachable

What our clients say

Guiding us through EHCP and transition

Recognised leading UK law firm

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