Government plans to overhaul special educational needs system

As reported by the Guardian, new government proposals will require schools to be more inclusive of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send)

As part of new proposals designed to end the current postcode lottery, schools across England will be required to “change their culture and practice”.

The plans, set out in a green paper published this week, intend to increase accountability and intervention to ensure that children’s needs are better met. It also includes a legal requirement for councils to publish inclusion plans and provide greater clarity about responsibility.

Many parents have found it difficult to secure the necessary provision for their child, in the current overly complicated system.

To reduce bureaucracy, a new “inclusion dashboard” intends to help parents understand what is available for their children with special needs in their area, as well as a more simplified, digital education, health and care plan.

Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, said: “We want to boost confidence in the system across the board, and increase local mainstream and specialist education to give parents better choice.”

The government’s long-awaited green paper will be followed by a 13-week consultation.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union, agreed improvements in support access was necessary.

“The government has to recognise that cuts to funding for specialist services and real-terms reductions in school budgets have contributed to long waiting lists for assessment and reduced levels of support available for pupils,” said Dr Roach.

Chief executive of Ambitious about Autism, Jolanta Lasota, commented “Plans to strengthen accountability in the system and provide more support to help young people bridge the gap from education to employment are a positive move to improve outcomes for autistic pupils.

“However, proposals to introduce a new framework for banding of higher-needs support will need to be closely examined. Autistic young people and their needs do not easily fit into a neat box or band.”