by Styliana Pasiardi, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Together Trust
In December, the Department for Education (DfE) launched the SEND Reform National Conversation survey to help shape the planned Schools White Paper, expected in early 2026. Our campaigns team submitted a response in January.
Although this is not a formal consultation, it was an important opportunity to share our positions ahead of the Schools White Paper.
A formal consultation will follow once the paper is published. Alongside our own submission, we continue to contribute to wider sector feedback through the Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) and the North West Disability Unit Regional Stakeholder Network
Below is a summary of the key positions we shared. Read our full response here.
Early identification: uphold the law and fix capacity
- Local authorities must meet their legal duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice. Ongoing delays, inconsistent assessments, and gaps in provision often lead to missed or escalating needs.
- We called for a more nuanced approach to early identification, particularly for students with sensory, communication or social needs, where early support prevents later mental health difficulties.
- Smaller EHCP caseloads to improve communication with families and schools. Increased recruitment, training and funding for educational psychologists to meet statutory timescales.
Independent Advocacy
- Independent advocacy should be offered through an ‘active offer’, rather than an opt-out model, ensuring that children and young people with SEND, and their families are consistently made aware of the availability of advocacy support.
- Advocacy services should facilitate access to key resources, including SENDIASS and therapeutic support, and be available to those without an EHC plan.
- Support should also extend across key transition points, such as starting or leaving school, post-16 pathways, and supported internships.
Mediation
- Mediation must be properly funded and staffed so it can genuinely prevent disputes from escalating.
Strengthen the SENCO role
- SENCOs should have dedicated, full-time positions with adequate time, training, and resources.
Support without waiting for diagnosis
- Support should be based on identified needs, not delayed until a formal diagnosis or an EHCP.
- Fund flexible interim support during assessment periods.
- Strengthen and protect the independence of SENDIASS to help families navigate systems and resolve issues early.
Written records: clarity for families, consistency for schools
We support the Disabled Children’s Partnership proposal for a written record of support for all children with SEND.
- A written record would enable needs-led support without waiting for diagnosis or statutory thresholds, helping staff act quickly and preventing needs from escalating.
- Develop national clear standards, training and additional capacity, so that written records complement, not replace, EHCPs.
Inclusivity must not be a tick‑box exercise
Inclusive practice should be a core expectation, underpinned by training, flexible teaching approaches and tailored interventions.
- Develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure all schools are equipped to
meet the evolving needs of students with SEND.
- Post-16 qualifications should address both academic and vocational abilities, enabling all students to progress and achieve their aspirations.
National consistency, funding, and accountability
- A national approach to funding that reflects individual needs.
- Centralised, user‑friendly SEND information and resources.
- Stronger accountability for delivering legal duties consistently across the country.
Better join‑up across services and early transition planning
- Full participation from all relevant agencies in EHCP reviews, regardless of perceived progress.
- Early and robust planning and preparation for adulthood.
- Stronger collaboration between local authorities and educational settings to share best practice.
- Better coordination between SEND specialists in FE providers and universities to support smooth transitions, with systems and funding in place to ensure equal access and successful outcomes.
Closing thoughts
The Schools White Paper offers an important opportunity to reform the SEND system with families and professionals, not to them. If the law is upheld, services are properly funded, inclusion is embedded effectively, and support is joined up around children and young people’s needs, we can finally move from debate to delivery.
The Together Trust will continue to engage constructively and champion the principle that strong implementation and clear accountability are where real, lasting change truly happens.
We want to hear from you
If you have lived experience of SEND – whether as a child, young person, parent‑carer, or professional – your insights matter. Your experiences can strengthen our advocacy and help shape national policy.
Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas with us; your voice can make a real difference.
Contact Styliana Pasiardi
Policy and Campaigns Manager, Together Trust
Email: styliana.pasiardi@togethertrust.org.uk
