Learning support for every child
Free, accessible, low-pressure practice that works alongside your child’s SEN support — never in place of it. Turn on read-aloud, easy-read text, high contrast and a calm no-pressure mode, and let every learner revise in the way that suits them.
Look for the floating Accessibility button (bottom-left of every page) to turn on read-aloud, easy-read text, high contrast, colour tints and reduced motion.
How PassNova helps with each area of need
The SEND Code of Practice (0–25) describes four broad areas of need. Here are the concrete PassNova features that can help with each — all free.
Communication & interaction
- A clean, one-question-at-a-time layout with no clutter
- Plain, literal language and short sentences
- Read-aloud so questions can be heard, not just read
- No time pressure — work at your own pace
Cognition & learning
- Read-aloud for every question and answer
- A clear explanation after every question
- Adaptive practice that focuses on weaker topics
- Chunked study mode and flashcards for spaced repetition
Social, emotional & mental health (SEMH)
- A no-pressure mode with no timers and gentle feedback
- The option to hide streaks and leaderboards
- Mistakes are treated as practice, never punished
- A calm, advert-free screen to focus on
Sensory and/or physical needs
- Adjustable text size and line spacing
- An easy-read (dyslexia-friendlier) font option
- High-contrast and colour-tint themes
- Reduced-motion option and full keyboard control
How we fit around the real help your child gets
Plain-English explainers of the official terms — and an honest note on where PassNova fits in.
SEN support & EHC plans
Most extra help is "SEN support" — adjustments a school or setting puts in place. Children and young people up to 25 with more complex needs may have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. PassNova practice can sit alongside either, but does not replace them and is not part of any official plan.
The graduated approach
Schools work in a cycle: Assess → Plan → Do → Review. When you sit down for a review, the practice and progress your child has built up on PassNova can be useful, honest context to share — "they get on well with read-aloud and extra time" — though it is informal, not a formal report or assessment.
Reasonable adjustments
Under the Equality Act 2010, schools have an anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments — including auxiliary aids — so a disabled learner is not put at a substantial disadvantage. PassNova mirrors that spirit with built-in accessibility options, but we are a revision aid, not the people who make those legal decisions.
Exam access arrangements
Access arrangements — such as 25% extra time, a reader, a scribe or rest breaks — are pre-exam adjustments based on a learner’s normal way of working. They are decided by the school within JCQ rules, not by us. PassNova cannot grant them, but you can practise in a similar way (for example, with read-aloud and no timer) so the real arrangement feels familiar.
Independent, official sources
These are independent and official sources of SEND advice — they are not PassNova, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
The official UK government overview of SEN support, EHC plans and your rights.
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice — free, legally based advice for families in England.
National body bringing together information, guidance and resources on disabled children and SEND.
Two more worth finding for your area: search your local council’s website for its Local Offer (the SEND services available where you live), and look up your local SENDIASS — a free, impartial Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service for families. Both are run locally, not by PassNova.
An honest note on what PassNova is — and isn’t
PassNova is a free practice and revision aid that offers accessibility features and reasonable-adjustment-style options. It is not a school, a SEND service, or a diagnostic or assessment tool, and it is not a substitute for an EHC plan, SEN support, or a professional assessment.
We cannot grant real exam access arrangements — those are decided by your child’s school and the awarding bodies (JCQ). We make no claims of being approved or endorsed by any body, and we do not publish ratings, statistics or testimonials we cannot stand behind. Always use PassNova alongside your child’s school, SENCO and any official support, and the sources of advice listed above.
SEND & accessibility: your questions answered
Is PassNova a SEND service or a school?
No. PassNova is a free practice and revision aid with built-in accessibility features. We are not a school, a SEND service, or a registered education provider, and we are not a substitute for SEN support or an EHC plan. Use us alongside your child’s school and any official support they receive.
Can you diagnose my child, assess them, or give them an EHC plan?
No. We do not diagnose, assess or screen for any condition, and we cannot issue or contribute to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. Those come from your local authority and qualified professionals. If you think your child may need a diagnosis or formal assessment, speak to their school or GP, or contact one of the official organisations listed above.
Do you provide exam access arrangements like extra time or a reader?
No — we cannot grant any exam access arrangement. Access arrangements (such as 25% extra time, a reader, a scribe or rest breaks) are decided by the school within JCQ rules, based on the learner’s normal way of working. What you can do on PassNova is practise in a similar way — for example with read-aloud switched on and no timer — so a real arrangement feels familiar on the day.
Are the accessibility features really free?
Yes. Every course is free to practise with no sign-up needed to start, and the accessibility features — read-aloud, easy-read text, high contrast, colour tints, larger text and reduced motion — are free for everyone. A free account is optional and just saves progress.
How is your content made, and is it suitable for SEND learners?
Our questions and explanations are AI-assisted and then reviewed, with input informed by teaching and SENCO practice, and built around real exam formats and the National Curriculum. We design for plain language and accessibility, but as with any revision aid it works best alongside official specifications and the guidance of your child’s teachers and SENCO. We do not claim to be approved or endorsed by any body.
Still unsure whether PassNova suits your child? Get in touch or visit the Parent Zone.