Our open letter to the Department for Education
Today, we have published a joint open letter to the Department for Education, calling for future SEND reforms to be underpinned by the following principles:
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Be co-designed with children and families
There must be meaningful opportunities for children and families who have lived experience of navigating services to shape SEND reform.
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Strengthen compliance with the law
The Department for Education should clarify the roles and expectations of stakeholders delivering SEND services, such as local authorities and health services. Families must know who is accountable for delivering what, when, and their rights for redress if things go wrong.
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Ensure parental choice is retained
Families should continue to have the right to request a particular school or college within their child’s EHC plan. Their options should not be limited to a tailored list.
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Make post-16 support a priority
The Department for Education should consider additional proposals on independent advocacy and supported internships and apprenticeships. Children with SEND must have meaningful opportunities with regards to training and employment.
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Not squeeze children’s needs into funding bands
A one size-fits-all funding approach risks a loss of provision in expensive areas of the country. Needs change over periods of time and are by nature different from child to child. This proposal is dangerous and should be dropped.
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Address existing gaps in the Green Paper
The Green Paper does not discuss how proposals will impact children in care and care leavers, children who have a physical disability, experience school-based avoidance or diagnostic overshadowing. The Minister should address these gaps.
The SEND Green Paper consultation has recently closed and the Department for Education is set to respond in the autumn. The open letter is currently open to signatories from other organisations, and SEND professionals. We hope to have a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss our recommendations further.
If your organisation would like to sign, or you would like to sign as a professional that works with children with SEND, please visit: https://forms.gle/JyngL2yFSbKJEEHcA