The government has announced a review into special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The review will explore:
- the support provided for pupils with SEND and how best to prepare them for life after school and employment
- what support parents of pupils with SEND require so that they can make the best decisions in the interests of their children
- how to create consistency of support across different localities and ensure that support is “joined up” with other social services
- getting the balance right between provision for mainstream and special schools
- making sure that there is an alignment between “incentives and accountability for schools, colleges and local authorities”
- exploring why there has been an increase in the prevalence of certain health conditions that have led to a rise in the number of education, health and care (EHC) plans
- how to maximise spending for SEND pupils so that it is “efficient, effective and sustainable”
This review comes on the back of recent funding announcements in which the government promised a “major funding boost of £700 million in 2020/21 for pupils with the most complex needs”.