Major review launched to improve SEN support

Following the pledge of £700 million for pupils with special educational needs in the recent Spending Review, the Department for Education has announced a new review to improve support.

The new review will look at the how the system has evolved since 2014, how it can be made to work best for all families and ensure quality of provision is the same across the country. Recognising the importance of joined-up support, it will also explore the role of health care in SEND in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I want parents to know that we’re committed to boosting outcomes and ensuring the right support is in place for children with special educational needs, by breaking down the barriers to a good education and making sure the system works for families. That is why the Prime Minister committed to providing an extra £700 million next year, an 11 per cent increase, to make sure these children can access the education that is right for them.

“Our reforms in 2014 gave vital support to more children, but we know there have been problems in delivering the changes that we all want to see. So it’s the right time to take stock of our system and make sure the excellence we want to see as a result of our changes is the norm for every child and their families.”

More than 350,000 children and young people aged 0-25 with the most complex special educational needs are currently on Education Health and Care plans. Of those in schools around half (130,000) are continuing in mainstream education.