Education Endowment Foundation:Our response to the government’s SEND reform consultation

Our response to the government’s SEND reform consultation

Public consultation on planned changes to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support.
Author
EEF
EEF

We’ve submitted a response to the Department for Education’s consultation on proposed changes to improve outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Press release •1 minute •

The consultation asked for views on the government’s proposals to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

Our response

Our response examines the limits of the existing evidence on ​‘what works’ to support pupils with SEND. There is some evidence, but significant gaps remain.

We argue that:

  • The lack of robust, relevant evidence means it is crucial that we continue to build the evidence base through ongoing evaluation.
  • There are some common components to effective practice which should be reflected in the new National Inclusion Standards, such as explicit teaching and feedback.
  • Many strategies to support SEND learners mirror what we know works for all pupils; in other words, getting things right for pupils with SEND is often about being even more assiduous about using strategies we know are effective for all pupils.
  • Overall, effective SEND support relies on a combination of high-quality universal teaching, alongside support for teachers to make effective adaptations and target support.

We welcome the government’s investment in professional development to support implementation of SEND support. It will be critical to ensure that this is aligned with evidence where possible.