News

The wait is over - the Government has now published its consultation document: SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People. There is much to absorb, and we have 12 weeks in which to consider its implications and provide feedback to DfE.

This is clearly an effort to restructure the SEN system whilst building on the foundations of the 2014 reforms. It aims to align responsibilities more closely with those who have the most direct responsibility for delivery and who engage most closely with children and young people and their families. Statutory rights to EHC plans remain for those whose provision requirements are the greatest, and new rights will be created for pupils in receipt of proposed Individual Support Plans that schools will be required to develop.

The announcement of significant additional funding of £3.6bn is, of course, greatly welcomed. However, SEN history shows that more funding does not on its own lead to improved outcomes or experiences for children and young people, and needs to be accompanied by other measures, including accountability and transparency for its spend.

Over the next 12 weeks, we need to explore how each of the pieces of this large jigsaw fit together. In the meantime, we need to emphasise that these remain proposals and nothing is changing in the short term.

André Imich
SEN and Disability Specialist Adviser
AI SEND Advisory Services