You may recall that in July, the Local Government Association (LGA) and County Councils Network (CCN), in partnership with ISOS, published a report titled “Towards an Effective and Financially Sustainable Approach to Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in England.” The report, along with our response, is available here: https://nnpcf.org.uk/2024/07/25/lga-ccn-isos-partnership-send-report/
In our response, we expressed the hope that the report would serve as a platform for initiating important conversations and welcomed greater involvement with LGA and CCN moving forward. We are pleased that, as a result, NNPCF has been credited by ISOS for helping use their report as a “platform” to discuss SEND reform.
Engagement Highlights
This initiative included:
- Six in-person regional workshops across November and December 2024 (and two online), involving the NNPCF and leaders from Parent Carer Forums, local authorities (LAs), education settings (across all phases and types), health services, and care services, in:
- London
- Manchester
- Bristol
- Doncaster
- Birmingham
- Newcastle
- Workshops with young people’s groups (currently ongoing).
- Parallel discussions with broader stakeholder groups to capture diverse feedback and ideas.
- A national workshop in January 2025, bringing together system leaders to share perspectives, build consensus, and address sensitive issues.
NNPCF actively participated in five of the six regional workshops, with support from regional representatives at each session. For the Birmingham workshop, where the NNPCF were unable to attend in person, we facilitated a Q&A session with our regional representatives beforehand to address any questions and provide them with the necessary support for their attendance.
Purpose of the Workshops
Discussing SEND reform: Using the ISOS report as a foundation for discussions.
Building mutual understanding: Encouraging open, collaborative dialogue amongst stakeholders which was solution focused to find a consensus to tackle the critical issues in the current SEND system.
It is essential to note that the report and workshops are not indicative of imminent policy changes but aim to influence reform and guide improvements to the current SEND system. The NNPCF felt that participating in these conversations, and others, is critical to shaping the future of SEND provision.
Workshop Themes
The report outlined eight overarching proposals, structured into two pillars for an effective and sustainable system:
Pillar 1: Holistic Approach to Child Development, Education, and Adult Life
- Recommendation 1: A new national vision – principles and values.
- Recommendation 2: A ‘National Framework’ – consistent expectations, best practice, independent institute.
- Recommendation 3: Enabling inclusion in education – multi-disciplinary offer; enablers, remove disincentives.
- Recommendation 5: Moving into adult life – aligned age of transition; key-working service; clear pathways.
- Recommendation 8: Workforce – whole-system workforce strategy
Pillar 2: Statutory Framework and the role of Individual Choice
- Recommendation 4: Reform of the statutory framework – retain principles and practices; separate access to support from function of statutory plan; dispute resolution.
- Recommendation 6: Local Inclusion Partnerships – align responsibilities and accountabilities. Strengthen joint responsibilities and funding.
- Recommendation 7: Role of the independent sector – new strategic role, equivalent requirements and regulations.
Workshop Feedback
Participants included Parent Carer Forum leaders (including NNPCF Co-Chairs and Regional Directors, along with Regional Representatives from local Parent Carer Forums), education leaders, health service leaders, and local authority children’s services leaders. Feedback from the workshops will be included in an annex to the original report, which will be published and will serve to support future discussions on SEND Reform.
Parent Carer Forums’ Reflections
ISOS reflected on the key group’s reflections, with the reflections from Parent Carer Forums specifically being reported as:
“Broadly supportive of the overall principles, particularly “pillar 1” proposals. Recognise the challenges in the system currently. Agreed with need to build capacity and support as a pre-condition for improving parental confidence”
However, it was noted the key concerns raised by Parent Carer Forums.
“1) Concern re: sequencing – if entitlements are lost before capacity and confidence are rebuilt.
(2) What “teeth” will new system have to ensure support is provided (and done so equitably – cf. ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status).
(3) Minority view – “just follow the (current) law”.”
NNPCF firmly believes that sequencing is critical for any change to the current SEND system, especially if parental confidence is going to be improved/restored. If legal thresholds for obtaining statutory provisions are raised, the delivery and accountability of non-statutory support must first be strengthened. This includes:
- Defining, clarifying access to and strengthening the graduated approach and ordinarily available provision.
- Ensuring educational settings are adequately funded.
- Building workforce capacity and providing appropriate training.
Key Reflection
Parents need confidence not only in government policies but also in the commitment and delivery of local partnerships and educational settings. Without a robust system of inclusion and support in place, legal changes risk leaving children and young people with SEND vulnerable.
In the national workshop, the NNPCF emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns. Parents, especially those whose children are struggling in the current system, may find the prospect of legislative change extremely unsettling, particularly when “mainstream inclusion” has not yet been successfully achieved and nor are there any significant widespread ‘green shoots’ of change currently.
Conclusion
While NNPCF sees merit in some of the proposed reforms, we remain cautious. Effective reform requires careful sequencing, transparent implementation, and robust accountability to ensure that no child or young person is left behind. We look forward to seeing these reflections incorporated into the final report and continuing to play a central role in shaping the future of SEND provision.