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The National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) has consistently emphasised the importance of understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in relation to school attendance. We want all CYP to be able to maximise their attendance in a way that best meets their needs. We recognise that not every CYP will be able to attend education on a full-time basis. We believe that, for some, accessing education part-time or through alternative arrangements that better suit their needs should be supported.

The NNPCF has previously highlighted that punitive approaches to attendance for SEND CYP can add strain to families already under pressure. To ensure that CYP not only attend school but also engage meaningfully in education, schools must provide consistent support, reasonable adjustments, and early interventions. This includes ordinarily available provision and, where required, statutory support as outlined in Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs).

The NNPCF has historically engaged with initiatives such as the Attendance Action Alliance, chaired by the Secretary of State for Education, to ensure that the challenges faced by SEND CYP are considered in national attendance strategies. We have stressed and continue to raise the importance of co-producing support mechanisms with families and eliminating any ‘blame culture’ associated with attendance issues. Strong joint working across all sectors, in partnership with families, is essential to supporting SEND students in attending school, in line with their needs, regularly.

The NNPCF were not invited to discussions on this current attendance campaign, however, we did provide feedback on the impact and concerns raised by parent carers regarding the previous campaign. We understand that both the previous campaign in 2024 and the current campaign (March 2025) have left parents feeling that the government’s approach fails to recognise the unique difficulties faced by SEND Children and Young People.

We understand that the campaign’s broad approach to attendance is perceived by parents and carers of CYP with SEND as overlooking the complex reasons behind absenteeism. The NNPCF has been clear that without addressing the root causes—such as unmet educational needs, bullying, or mental health challenges—simply urging attendance is ineffective and may strain relationships between families and schools.

In our previous feedback, we have also raised concerns about the perceived blame on parenting.  Some parents feel that the campaign implies absenteeism results from poor parenting.  This disregards systemic issues within the education system that fail to accommodate SEND Children and Young People adequately, along with some CYP who struggle with the environmental issues within a setting. This perception has led to feelings of frustration and alienation among parents who are already advocating tirelessly for their children’s needs.

The NNPCF would like to see the narrative around attendance to change focus. It would be helpful to frame the narrative to distinguish between those missing education (truant/holidays) and those physically absent from the setting but still engaging (where SEND issues allow) with education. This latter group covers those on reduced timetables, remote learning etc.

The NNPCF do acknowledge the Secretary of State’s commitment to SEND reforms to ensure that the needs of CYP with SEND are met, and we note the recent government blog on attendance, published on March 14, 2025 (Link), which states:

“It’s important to recognise that children with long-term medical conditions, serious mental health challenges, or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may encounter additional obstacles. For those experiencing complex barriers to attendance, schools should engage in compassionate discussions with both children and their families, collaborating to provide tailored support that meets their specific needs.”

However, the NNPCF acknowledge that many SEND parents and carers still feel that the current media campaign overlooks these commitments and lacks the necessary sensitivity and understanding of their children’s unique challenges, which we will raise though our ongoing engagement with the DfE.

The NNPCF, along with other key stakeholders, attended a roundtable meeting, on 11^th March 2025, with Minister McKinnell, Minister of Education, facilitated by Amanda Allard from CDC which focused on Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND).

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the ongoing speculation surrounding SEND and Inclusive Education. The Minister shared insights into the government’s direction and engaged with key stakeholders.

Ministers Address

The Minister acknowledged that the current system is not functioning effectively and that reform is needed to create a truly inclusive education system to ensure that Children and Young People (CYP) have the opportunities to achieve and thrive in their education.

The Minister emphasized the importance of focusing on SEND, stating that she has participated in 12 debates in Parliament on the subject. The Minister also highlighted several initiatives currently underway which are also supporting an inclusive education system:

• Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group (Chaired by Dr Karen Guldberg): has conducted three meetings so far to address the needs of neurodivergent children and young people.
• Inclusion Expert Advisory Group (Chaired by Tom Rees): bringing together expertise from key stakeholders, including Ofsted, to enhance inclusivity.
• Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS): aims to build teacher and staff capacity to better support neurodiverse children. Currently, 1,600 mainstream primary schools are involved.
• Early Language and Support for Every Child Initiative (ELSEC part of Change Program): Therapy teams have supported approximately 13,000 children, while over 1,000 staff have received upskilling training.
• Change Program Partnerships (CPP):  are gathering insights on the effectiveness of SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) reforms.

Defining Inclusion and the Role of Specialist Provision

Stakeholders emphasized to the Minister the need for a clear, shared definition of inclusion and inclusive education. Concerns were raised about the risk of multiple, competing definitions, and the Minister reassured attendees that efforts are being made to align these perspectives.

Stakeholders highlighted the need for a continued role for specialist provision, calling for knowledge transfer from special schools to mainstream settings to enhance inclusive education. Stakeholders emphasized that to enable inclusion, the system must strategically commission the right level of support. Concerns were also highlighted regarding funding, the lack of quality data, and insufficient knowledge of children’s needs, all of which impact effective commissioning.

The Minister stated that the current Children and Wellbeing Bill in Parliament aims to improve collaboration between local authorities and multi-academy trusts. The Minister stated it was important that funding flows effectively through the system to reach the children and young people who need it most.

The Minister emphasised that reform requires more than just sharing best practices—it demands systematic change, recognizing that while some children will thrive in mainstream settings with varying levels of support, others may require resource bases or specialist provision.

Furthermore, she acknowledged the important role of specialist schools and emphasised that their expertise should be utilised to strengthen the broader education system.

SEN in Colleges

• The distinct challenges in college-level SEN noting that colleges hold 1 in 7 Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) yet lack access to key support services.
• Concerns were raised about the absence of dedicated funding for SEN support in colleges.
• Lack of preparation within EHCPs and insufficient strategic planning by local authorities can negatively impact transitions, leaving students without the necessary support. While colleges strive to be inclusive, they often face financial disincentives, making it challenging to sustain inclusive practices.

Health Perspective

• Timely access to health services is crucial for identifying and supporting children’s needs, which often present in educational settings but are not always fully understood. This gap can create a barrier to inclusion
• The need for a SEN-ready health workforce, ensuring that health professionals receive adequate training to better support children with special educational needs.

Teacher Training & Inclusive Practice

• Emphasised the need for more SEN training for teachers, both in initial teacher training and ongoing CPD.
• Teachers should be equipped to adapt their teaching for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
• Dyslexia affects 10% of the population, making targeted teacher training a key priority.

Incentives and Accountability in Schools

• It was noted the disparities in schools’ commitment and capability to be inclusive.
• Ofsted now considers inclusion in its assessments, but some schools continue to prioritise academic outcomes over inclusion.
• Reforms must address both incentives and accountability to ensure all schools commit to inclusion.

Parental Concerns and Support for Mainstream Inclusion

• Concerns were raised about parental confidence in mainstream settings regarding statutory support plans. Questions were asked about how schools can reassure parents that their child’s needs will still be met, particularly if reforms lead to children and young people transitioning out of an EHCP because their needs are now deemed to be met within mainstream inclusion and ordinarily available provision.
• Assurance was sought for the importance of upfront investment to ensure needs are met and to prevent systemic failures.
• Questions were raised regarding government modelling on transition costs and future spending plans.

Resource Provision & Specialist Schools

• The government was urged to provide evidence-based guidance on resource provision and inclusive practices.
• Collaboration among local authorities is key to preventing resource provision from becoming segregated spaces.
• A concern was raised about staffing in Resource Provision (RP) settings and the necessary training required.
• Independent special schools were discussed, with concerns about local authority influence on new provisions.

Minister’s Response & Next Steps

• The Children and Wellbeing Bill is already driving change in cooperation between schools and local authorities.
• Teacher training and support for SEN Coordinators (SENCOs) is being actively developed.
• Capital funding will be announced soon to create more inclusive school environments.
• Collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care continues to address workforce challenges.
• The Minister committed to further discussions on transitions and funding models.

Closing Remarks

• The Minister expressed appreciation for the discussion and engagement.
• The Minister’s team will follow up on key concerns raised.
• Future discussions will continue to shape inclusive education reform.

This meeting reinforced the importance of collaboration in building an inclusive education system that meets the needs of all young people.

With thanks to Amanda Allard at CDC and her team for organising the roundtable and the other stakeholders who contributed and took part in the discussions:  Tania Tirraoro – Special Needs Jungle (SNJ), Tom Coulson – Unity Schools Partnership, Anna Bird – Contact, Ruth Perry – Natspec, Julie Hoodless – Cheshire ICB, Katie Ghose – Kids, Simon Plummer – NCB, Cheryl Ward – Family Fund, David Holloway – Association of Colleges, Annamarie Hassel – NASEN, Lorraine Mulroney – NHSE, Claire Dorer – NASS Schools, Edmore Masendeke – ALLFIE, Ellen Broome – Dyslexia Association, George Carr – Speech & Language UK.

In response to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement today regarding NHS England being brought back under the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and placed under direct government control, here is an overview of our understanding so far, inculding a copy of a press release we have been asked to share.

Current System:

• The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is the government department responsible for health and social care policy in England. It sits above NHS England and makes big decisions about funding, laws, and overall strategy for health and social care.
• NHS England, established in 2013, is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care. It oversees the budget, planning, delivery, and day-to-day operation of the commissioning side of the National Health Service (NHS) in England.
• Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) – These sit between NHSE and frontline providers. ICBs plan and manage healthcare services at a local level. They decide how NHS money is spent in their area and coordinate services to meet local needs.
• Frontline Health Providers – These are the hospitals, GP surgeries, mental health services, ambulance trusts, and community care teams that directly provide care to patients.

In light of the changes that will bring NHSE back under the control of DHSC—removing a layer of bureaucracy and eliminating role duplication between DHSC and NHSE, as confirmed in the press release—the NNPCF will:

1. Service Delivery for Children with SEND
   The NNPCF  will work to understand how the integration of NHS England into the DHSC will impact the delivery of services to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We will emphasise the importance of improving access to health services for children and young people with SEND.
2. Continued Stakeholder Engagement
   The NNPCF  will urge the DHSC to ensure that the NNPCF, other stakeholders remain, PCFs and the wider community are actively involved in consultations and decision-making processes during and after the transition. We will highlight the crucial role of lived experience in shaping policies that directly affect children and young people with SEND.
3. Transparency and Accountability
   The NNPCF will call for clear communication regarding any changes to health services, ensuring that PCFs and their families are well-informed about how these changes may affect them. We will stress the necessity for accountability measures to monitor the impact of restructuring on service quality and accessibilities.
4. Impacts on Funding and Resources
   The NNPCF will seek assurances that the restructuring will not negatively affect the funding and resources allocated to SEND services.

The NNPCF understand that answers to our immediate questions are likely to evolve in the coming months. We will, of course, keep PCFs updated and seek your input on key matters as appropriate.

Press Release

Please find below a press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on 13th March 2025, following a speech by the Prime Minister announcing that NHS England will be brought back under the DHSC:

World’s largest quango scrapped under reforms to put patients first

• Major reforms to empower NHS staff and put patients first
• Changes will drive efficiency and empower staff to deliver better care as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change
• Move will reduce complex bureaucracy and undo the damage caused by 2012 reorganisation

Reforms to reduce bureaucracy, make savings and empower NHS staff to deliver better care for patients have been set out today [Thursday 13 March] by the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

NHS England will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care to put an end to the duplication resulting from two organisations doing the same job in a system currently holding staff back from delivering for patients. By stripping back layers of red tape and bureaucracy, more resources will be put back into the front line rather than being spent on unnecessary admin.  

The reforms will reverse the 2012 top-down reorganisation of the NHS which created burdensome layers of bureaucracy without any clear lines of accountability. As Lord Darzi’s independent investigation into the state of the NHS found, the effects of this are still felt today and have left patients worse off under a convoluted and broken system.

The current system also penalises hardworking staff at NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care who desperately want to improve the lives of patients but who are being held back by the current overly bureaucratic and fragmented system.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

“This is the final nail in the coffin of the disastrous 2012 reorganisation, which led to the longest waiting times, lowest patient satisfaction, and most expensive NHS in history.

“When money is so tight, we can’t justify such a complex bureaucracy with two organisations doing the same jobs. We need more doers, and fewer checkers, which is why I’m devolving resources and responsibilities to the NHS frontline.

“NHS staff are working flat out but the current system sets them up to fail. These changes will support the huge number of capable, innovative and committed people across the NHS to deliver for patients and taxpayers. 

“Just because reform is difficult doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. This government will never duck the hard work of reform. We will take on vested interests and change the status quo, so the NHS can once again be there for you when you need it.”

Sir James Mackey, who will be taking over as Transition CEO of NHS England, said:

“We know that while unsettling for our staff, today’s announcement will bring welcome clarity as we focus on tackling the significant challenges ahead and delivering on the government’s priorities for patients.

“From managing the Covid pandemic, the biggest and most successful vaccine campaign which got the country back on its feet, to introducing the latest most innovative new treatments for patients, NHS England has played a vital role in improving the nation’s health. I have always been exceptionally proud to work for the NHS – and our staff in NHS England have much to be proud of.

“But we now need to bring NHS England and DHSC together so we can deliver the biggest bang for our buck for patients, as we look to implement the three big shifts – analogue to digital, sickness to prevention, and hospital to community – and build an NHS fit for the future.”

Incoming NHS England Chair, Dr Penny Dash said:

“I am committed to working with Jim, the board and wider colleagues at NHS England to ensure we start 25/26 in the strongest possible position to support the wider NHS to deliver consistently high-quality care for patients and value for money for taxpayers.

“I will also be working closely with Alan Milburn to lead the work to bring together NHSE and DHSC to reduce duplication and streamline functions.”

Work will begin immediately to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department. A longer-term programme of work will deliver the changes to bring NHS England back into the department, while maintaining a laser-like focus on the government’s priorities to cut waiting times and responsibly manage finances.It will also realise the untapped potential of the NHS as a single payer system, using its centralised model to procure cutting-edge technology more rapidly, get a better deal for taxpayers on procurement, and work more closely with the life sciences sector to develop the treatments of the future.

The reforms to deliver a more efficient, leaner centre will also free up capacity and help deliver significant savings of hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which will be reinvested in frontline services to cut waiting times through the government’s Plan for Change.

The changes will crucially also give more power and autonomy to local leaders and systems – instead of weighing them down in increasing mountains of red tape, they will be given the tools and trust they need to deliver health services for the local communities they serve with more freedom to tailor provision to meet local needs.  

The number of people working in the centre has more than doubled since 2010, when the NHS delivered the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in its history. Today, the NHS delivers worse care for patients but is more expensive than ever, meaning that taxpayers are paying more but getting less.

Too much centralisation and over-supervision has led to a tangled bureaucracy, which focuses on compliance and box-ticking, rather than patient care, value for money, and innovation. In one example, highlighted by Dame Patricia Hewitt’s 2023 review, one Integrated Care System received 97 ad-hoc requests in a month from DHSC and NHSE, in addition to the 6 key monthly, 11 weekly and 3 daily data returns.

The review also revealed the challenges caused by duplication – citing ‘examples of tensions, wasted time and needless frictional costs generated by uncoordinated pursuit of organizational goals that do not take account of their wider effects’. 

Substantial reform, not just short term investment, is needed to deliver the government’s Plan for Change mission to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future, and this announcement is one of a series of steps the government is taking to make the NHS more productive and resilient so that it can meet the needs of the population it cares for.

NHS England’s new leadership team, Sir Jim Mackey and Dr Penny Dash, will lead this transformation while reasserting financial discipline and continuing to deliver on the government’s priority of cutting waiting times through the Plan for Change.

These reforms will provide the structure necessary to drive forward the three big shifts identified by government as crucial to building an NHS fit for the future – analogue to digital, sickness to prevention, and hospital to community.

Since July, Government has already taken significant steps to get the NHS back on its feet, including bringing an end to the resident doctor strikes, delivering an extra 2 million appointments 7 months early and cutting waiting lists by 193,000 since July.

In 2025/26, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have been directed to prioritize adults, children, and young people with complex health and social care needs who require support from multiple services and organizations. This guidance encourages ICBs to focus on children and young people in 2025/26 while also preparing for the expansion of the neighbourhood approach in future years.

Neighbourhood Health Guidelines 2025/26 were published on January 29, 2025: Read here

A more specific Guidance on Neighbourhood Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) for Children and Young People was published on February 19, 2025: Read here

The guidance emphasizes the importance of co-developing neighbourhood MDTs for children and young people, stating:

“Co-development of neighbourhood MDTs for children and young people is vital to their success. Building meaningful and ongoing engagement with children and young people from the start, as well as with family and carer champions, will help to deliver a patient-centred service.”

PCFs may want to explore local opportunities to support the development of this initiative.

On Wednesday, 5^th February 2025, the NNPCF met with Minister Catherine McKinnell, Head for School Standards, which now encompasses Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Historically, SEND did not sit within schools and was managed separately. However, since Minister McKinnell’s appointment, SEND has become fully integrated into School Standards within the Department for Education (DfE). 

For full details on Minister McKinnell’s responsibilities, please refer to the following link: Catherine McKinnell MP – GOV.UK 

The Minister was keen to hear about the joint NNPCF and Contact National Conference held the previous day. The Minister also expressed her disappointment at not being able to attend in person, as she was required to be in Parliament for the Wellbeing Bill. 

We discussed the important role that Parent Carer Forums (PCFs) play at the local level on SEND Strategic Boards, their interactions at the regional level, and the significance of events like the joint National Conference has in enabling national engagement with key stakeholders such as the DfE, NSHE and Ofsted/CQC. While the NNPCF engage with stakeholders at a national level, these events provide partners with valuable insights by enabling them to hear directly from PCFs across England about the local ‘lived experiences’. 

We emphasized the importance of collaborating with families and PCFs, with any upcoming changes to ensure genuine coproduction. The NNPCF believes that this approach aims to build trust and confidence while improving outcomes for children and young people through inclusive educational practices. It was discussed that many low-cost early intervention strategies, are beneficial for all students, not just children and young people with SEND. Additionally, active engagement with families is necessary for schools to foster positive relationships. Collaboration at all levels, from individual interactions to national policymaking, was highlighted as essential, which is why programmes like PINS (Partnerships for Inclusion for Neurodiversity in Schools) are so important. 

A critical topic of discussion was the varying degrees of engagement between local PCFs, health services and local authorities. While some local authorities actively support their PCFs, including financial contributions, others remain hesitant and prefer to operate independently. This inconsistency underscores the need for consistent support and funding from local authorities and health, along with improved alignment and cooperation across regions. 

We discussed the need for both universal and targeted support emphasizing the importance of a well-coordinated, multi-agency approach is vital to ensure that children receive the assistance they need. However, challenges arise when health, education, and social care services fail to collaborate effectively. A key concern was the reduction of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the subsequent fear among parents and carers that reduced statutory rights could lead to inadequate support for their children. 

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted on joint working and problem-solving within both Parents and Carers as well as PCFs. During the crisis, local authorities were compelled to find creative solutions to support families, leading to stronger partnerships boards in many areas. This experience has demonstrated the value of collaboration and highlighted the importance of maintaining this momentum in future policymaking. 

The importance of strong data collection and analysis are fundamental for effective planning and support. Unfortunately, many local authorities and health partners lack robust data systems, which impacts their ability to make informed decisions on both the current and future need for provisions for children and young people.  

As the landscape of children and young people with SEND evolves, collaboration, transparency, and strategic planning will remain essential in reforms that aim to build a support system that truly meets the needs of children and their families. 

The Education Select Committee recently convened to address the critical challenges surrounding the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) crisis. As part of this process, the NNPCF was invited to participate in an informal roundtable discussion in November, alongside other stakeholders, to inform the enquiry. The November discussion focused on key areas such as SEND support, the inspection framework, and Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

The NNPCF then welcomed the announcement of the “Solving the SEND Crisis” inquiry on 20th December. To ensure our response was grounded in the experiences and views of our members, we launched a comprehensive survey. We were delighted with the level of response with over 200 submissions from Parent Carer Forums across all nine Department for Education (DfE) regions. This was further complemented by local Parent Carer Forums’ (PCF) submissions and case studies that were generously shared with us. This collaborative effort has been vital in shaping our evidence and feedback for the committee.

Like many PCFs and other parent carer organisations, the NNPCF faced challenges due to the timing of the inquiry’s announcement, which coincided with the Christmas period—a particularly demanding time for many families. This was followed by the transition back to education, work, and day provisions in January, where parent carers rightly had to prioritise these responsibilities, which we duly raised with the committee representative. These factors made it even more difficult to engage meaningfully with our members during this crucial period.

While the NNPCF managed to collect valuable input through surveys and direct communications, we would have preferred to facilitate deeper engagement with our PCFs. Nevertheless, we ensured our submission was prepared and submitted as requested by the committee ahead of the oral evidence session on 28th January.  That said we appreciated the committee’s decision to extend the deadline from 30th January to 6th February which will allow others additional time to provide their evidence.

Recent reports have highlighted the complexity of the SEND system, including issues such as insufficient funding, high provision costs, tribunal pressures, and rising EHCP demands. However, central to these challenges are our children and young people—many of whom are not receiving the support they need to thrive and transition successfully into adulthood. The strain of navigating a system that often lacks transparency, and accountability is a heavy burden on parents and carers. For this reason, we welcome the committee’s focused attention on these issues.

The committee posed key questions to guide our input. While we aligned with these points, our written submission—grounded in the voices of our membership—addressed a wider range of issues.

As the NNPCF Co-Chair stated within the Session “If we dilute the rules, we don’t dilute the needs. The needs will still exist”.

Read our full submission here:

Find the inquiry details and watch the full video here: 28 January 2025 – Solving the SEND Crisis – Oral evidence – Committees – UK Parliament

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. 

HPIG have published the ‘Roadmap for the Healthiest Generation of Children Ever’.

The Children and Young People’s Health Policy Influencing Group (HPIG) is an independent membership organisation made up of charities, Royal Colleges and professional associations, including the NNPCF. HPIG’s goal is to improve the mental and physical health of babies, children and young people from conception-25 by influencing the policy, legislation, and regulation that affects them.

You can read the report in full HERE

This report is a collaboration between the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) and the Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP). The report demonstrates why well-resourced and properly coordinated services must be a priority.

You can access the report here.

The Department of Education have now published the Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme (DBV) Phase 1 report and National Toolkit. This was due to be published earlier this year but was delayed due to the election.

The Phase 1 report is an aggregation of the findings and insights that were collected from the 54 diagnostics conducted during Phase 1 of the DBV programme.

The report is designed to present the findings from Phase 1 of the programme and act as an evidence base to support further investigation and enactment of changes across the SEND system while the Toolkit is a collection of lessons from the 54 DBV diagnostics that has been developed into an accessible self-serve tool for local areas.

You can access both the report and the tool kit here: