Solving the SEND Crisis

Education Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 20 Dec 2024 Parliament page
A number of recent reports have set out in detail the extent of the crisis in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, which is letting down children and their families, creating intense pressure on local authority funding and on schools. This inquiry will focus on how to achieve … Read more
27 Recommendations
68 Conclusions
4 Reports
7 Oral sessions
17 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 36 events
30 Apr
2026
Correspondence
30 Apr
2026
Correspondence
3 Mar
2026
Correspondence
6 Jan
2026
Correspondence
6 Jan
2026
Correspondence
11 Dec
2025
Report published
9 Dec
2025
Correspondence
12 Nov
2025
Correspondence
12 Nov
2025
Correspondence
11 Nov
2025
Correspondence
11 Nov
2025
Correspondence
28 Oct
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 7 sessions
1 Jul 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Alison Ismail · Department for Education Catherine McKinnell MP · Department for Education
10 Jun 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Conrad Bourne · The Mercian Trust Daniel Constable-Phelps · St Mary’s Primary and Nursery School Dr Peter Gray · SSCYP (Strategic Services for Children & Young People) Dr Susana Castro-Kemp · UCL Faculty of Education and Society (IOE) Jo Hutchinson · Education Policy Institute Nicole Dempsey · Dixons Academies Trust
13 May 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Adam Sproston · Ofsted Georgina Downard · Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA) Lucy Harte · Care Quality Commission (CQC) Sharon Chappell · Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO)
29 Apr 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Alison Stewart · South West London Integrated Care Board Janet Harrison · The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Lisa O’Connor · Association of Educational Psychologists Ms Marie Gascoigne · Better Communications CIC Professor Ian Kessler · Kings College London Sarah Walter · NHS Confederation
11 Mar 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Catherine McLeod MBE · Dingley's Promise Clare Howard · Natspec Joanna Hall Katie Nellist Madeline Thomas Margaret Mulholland · Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Miss Lucy Bowerman Ms Annamarie Hassall MBE · The National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen) Sarah Cobb
25 Feb 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Claire Dorer OBE · National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools Councillor Kate Foale · County Councils Network Dr Luke Sibieta · Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) Phil Haslett · F40 Rob Williams · National Association of Head Teachers
28 Jan 2025
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Solving the SEND Crisis
Agnes Agyepong · Global Black Maternal Health Amanda Allard · Council for Disabled Children Jo Harrison · National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) Miss Imogen Steele · Contact Mrs Hayley Harding · Let Us learn Too Ms Katie Ghose · Kids Tania Tirraoro · Special Needs Jungle Ltd
Recommendations & Conclusions
26 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Absence of a departmental definition for inclusive education hinders clarity and investment planning.
We welcome the Department’s focus on inclusive education; however, we are concerned about the absence of a Departmental definition of this and the subsequent lack of clarity about what ‘inclusive mainstream’ education looks like and means in practice for educators, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of inclusive education and outlines its 'Plan for Change,' including establishing an Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, deploying RISE advisors, and incorporating an explicit focus on inclusion in Ofsted's new framework.
Department for Education
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Systemic failures in SEND provision result in poor experiences and outcomes for families.
The SEND system is not delivering for children and young people or their families, with poor experiences and outcomes becoming the norm in many places across England. Rising need coupled with limited school resourcing, stretched local authority budgets and a … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's report rightly highlights the deep-rooted issues within the SEND system. It states it is committed to reforming the system as part of its Plan for Change and is already taking action through investment in school places, improved teacher training, and Best Start Family Hubs.
Department for Education
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17 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Ensure active parental involvement in all SEND processes with independent advocacy and resources
Parents and carers must be actively and meaningfully involved in all processes that affect their child’s education, support, and overall wellbeing. This includes being fully informed and invited to participate in all relevant meetings where decisions about their child’s needs … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of parental involvement and outlines engagement activities with stakeholders to shape reform proposals, followed by a formal consultation. However, it does not commit to providing independent advocacy, dedicated resourcing for local authorities, or a New Burdens Assessment as specifically recommended.
Department for Education
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19 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Implement SEND reforms gradually through phased pilots with full parental engagement and communication
To avoid causing undue alarm and to help rebuild confidence and trust in the system, parents and carers must be fully engaged and any reforms must be implemented gradually and in a carefully phased manner. New approaches should first be … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for partnership and engagement to shape reform proposals, outlining specific activities and a formal consultation. However, the response does not commit to piloting new approaches via a pathfinder model or to implementing reforms gradually and in a phased manner as recommended.
Department for Education
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26 Recommendation Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Mandate SEND expertise within school and multi-academy trust governance structures
To ensure accountability for inclusive practice, SEND expertise should be embedded within schools and multi-academy trust (MAT) governance structures, for example, by making it mandatory to appoint governors or trustees with specific responsibility for and relevant expertise (including lived experience) … Read more
Government Response
The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and created an Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion and a team of expert Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) advisors to work with schools.
Department for Education
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27 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
High SEND Tribunal loss rate indicates widespread local authority non-compliance
Tribunals are an important feature of the accountability system, allowing families to challenge local authorities’ decisions regarding their children’s support; however, they should only need to be used as a last resort. We are deeply concerned by the number of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges that the SEND system does not work for too many families, agrees with prioritising partnership working, and highlights the new SEND inspection framework launched in January 2023 to improve outcomes and local authority accountability.
Department for Education
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30 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Strengthen accountability frameworks for health partners to ensure full integration into the SEND system.
The limited engagement of health services in the SEND system stems from a lack of robust and enforceable accountability mechanisms. Despite being a critical enabler of positive educational outcomes for children with SEND, health services are not held to the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of health and social care engagement and states it will give full consideration to the committee's recommendations for strengthening accountability frameworks, while also noting ongoing work to improve access to community health services and early interventions.
Department for Education
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31 Recommendation Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Mandate training for health commissioners on good practice in meeting children's SEND needs.
There must be mandatory training for health commissioners on good practice in meeting the needs of children with SEND. (Recommendation, Paragraph 158)
Government Response
The government is considering how to improve professional development for all teachers, including those teaching pupils with SEND, but commits to no specific action on mandatory training for health commissioners.
Department for Education
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33 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Improve cross-departmental coordination and strengthen accountability for SEND health services at ICB level.
The Department for Education must significantly improve cross- departmental coordination with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to establish clear, consistent accountability for SEND at the ICB level. Current arrangements are fragmented and lack clarity. Strengthening … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights ongoing close work with DHSC and NHS England to improve access to community health services and early interventions, and refers to the new SEND inspection framework (launched Jan 2023) as a mechanism to improve accountability and outcomes at the LA and ICB level, but does not commit to specific coordination improvements or strengthening the SRO role.
Department for Education
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37 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Establish national inclusivity requirements for early years settings and reform Disability Access Fund eligibility criteria.
To address inconsistency in the delivery of early years provision and the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF), the Department for Education must establish a set of national inclusivity requirements for early years settings. These requirements should be backed by … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of early years SEND support and states it is working to embed inclusive practice and increase funding through existing strategies, but does not commit to establishing new national inclusivity requirements or reforming the Disability Access Fund.
Department for Education
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38 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Family Hubs offer SEND identification opportunities but lack sufficient awareness and early screening.
Best Start Family Hubs and the expansion of childcare provision present a valuable opportunity to engage with families earlier and identify SEND needs at the earliest possible stage. We welcome the announcement that every Best Start Family Hub will have … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of early identification and SEND awareness, detailing its ongoing 'Best Start in Life' strategy, including funding Best Start Family Hubs with trained professionals and continuing funding for early language interventions like the NELI program until AY 2028/29.
Department for Education
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47 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Inadequate statutory home-to-school transport for 16-19 year olds with SEND hinders education access.
We know that some young people in some areas will have a long-term need for home to school transport due to extremely limited public transport options in their local area or their individual needs. We are concerned about the impact … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the report and highlights its commitment to reforming the SEND system to deliver excellent, inclusive education.
Department for Education
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49 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework inadequately prepare teachers for SEND support.
While the Department’s update to the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework is a positive move, it needs to go further to adequately prepare teachers to support pupils with SEND. SEND is still not fully integrated across all training … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for teachers to be better prepared for SEND, stating that the updated Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) introduced in September 2025 includes enhanced statements on adaptive teaching and SEND, and commits to a full review of the ECTE and its approach to SEND support for Early Career Teachers in 2027.
Department for Education
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53 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Universal SEND professional development improves outcomes for all pupils and teacher resilience.
Continuous professional development in SEND should not be viewed solely as a support mechanism for specialist SEND educators. When all teachers are trained to understand and respond to the needs of pupils with SEND, the entire workforce becomes more inclusive, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of improving professional development for "all teachers" and highlights the ITTECF's enhanced SEND statements, aligning with the principle that all teachers need SEND training, but does not commit to making CPD continuous or mandatory for all beyond the early career stage.
Department for Education
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56 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Strong senior leadership on SEND is crucial for effective inclusion across schools.
Strong leadership on SEND is essential to delivering effective and inclusive education. Often the bulk of responsibility for SEND inclusion falls to a single SENCO and this should not be the case. Evidence shows that when senior leadership prioritises inclusion, … Read more
Government Response
The government's response mentions the mandatory NPQ for SENCOs and a review of NPQ frameworks in 2025 to strengthen inclusive leadership practices, which aligns with the conclusion's emphasis on strong, strategic SEND leadership.
Department for Education
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64 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
SEND families experience unsatisfactory interactions with local authority staff and EHC plans
Many children with SEND and their families continue to have unsatisfactory experiences when navigating the SEND system, particularly in their interactions with local authority staff. These challenges are often rooted in a failure to work empathetically in partnership with parents … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges that the SEND system does not work for too many families and agrees on the importance of local authorities prioritising good partnership working, while also referencing the new SEND inspection framework.
Department for Education
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65 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Improve local authority staff training on SEND law and parent engagement for better relationships
Local authority staff require improved training on child development, SEND law, parent engagement and mediation, alongside changes in practice that strengthen accountability and foster more constructive relationships with parents and carers. This should include meaningful parental involvement at every stage … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of local authorities prioritising good partnership working with families, stating it will give full consideration to the committee's recommendations and referencing the new SEND inspection framework.
Department for Education
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70 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Inclusive education improves long-term outcomes for SEND children, offering economic benefits.
We have seen and heard evidence that delivering inclusive practice in education improves long term outcomes for children and young people with SEND which has wider benefits to the economy as well as costing less to deliver than expensive specialist … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the report and highlights its commitment to reforming the SEND system to deliver excellent, inclusive education.
Department for Education
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74 Recommendation Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Ensure National Funding Formula provides fair, sufficient SEND funding reflecting regional need.
The National Funding Formula must ensure that funding for SEND is both fair and sufficient to meet the needs of children and young people across the country. While some geographical variation is to be expected, this should reflect the prevalence … Read more
Government Response
The government outlined an increase of £4.2 billion in schools and high needs funding, committed to supporting local authorities with SEND deficits until 2027–28, and allocated £740 million for high needs capital, stating these measures will help improve SEND outcomes.
Department for Education
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78 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
SEND not a shared priority across government departments, burdening the education system.
The current failure to embed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as a shared priority across government departments is not just a policy oversight, it is a profound injustice to some of the most vulnerable children in our society. It … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for shared working across education, health, and care services, describing ongoing collaboration to improve access to community health services and ensure allied health professionals are effectively deployed. They also mention a new SEND inspection framework and state they will give full consideration to the Committee's recommendations.
Department for Education
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79 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Identify SEND as health system priority, strengthening ICB accountability and senior officer visibility.
SEND should be identified as a priority across the health system and ongoing NHS restructuring must be used as an opportunity to strengthen the role and accountability of health services in supporting children and young people with SEND. This includes … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of partnership between education, health, and care services and describes ongoing collaboration to improve access to community health services. They mention a new SEND inspection framework covering LAs and ICBs, but do not commit to specifically increasing the seniority or visibility of Senior Responsible Officers for SEND within ICBs, stating they will give full consideration to the Committee's recommendations.
Department for Education
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82 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Guidance on delegating healthcare responsibilities within schools remains weak and unclear.
Guidance on the delegation of healthcare responsibilities within schools and multi-academy trusts remains weak. There is insufficient clarity on how and when healthcare tasks can be appropriately and safely assigned to school or multi-academy trust staff, what training and safeguards … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the report and highlights its commitment to reforming the SEND system to deliver excellent, inclusive education.
Department for Education
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86 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Set out a detailed implementation plan and mandatory standards for expanded SEND resource bases.
If the Department for Education expands the use of resource bases to increase specialist provision within mainstream schools and multi- academy trusts, it must set out a detailed implementation plan. This plan should clearly specify how resource bases should be … Read more
Government Response
The government notes that many mainstream settings already provide specialist provision through SEN units and resourced provision and states they would like to explore how to make these practices more widespread. However, they do not commit to setting out a detailed implementation plan with specified staffing and mandatory standards for resource bases.
Department for Education
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87 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Current high needs capital funding is too short-term for sustainable SEND provision planning.
The allocation of £740 million in high needs capital funding for 2025–26 is a welcome investment and reflects a growing recognition of the urgent need to expand and improve SEND provision. However, this funding should be seen as a starting … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the important role of the £740 million high needs capital funding for 2025–26 as a core investment. They state they will provide more detail on their approach across the spending review period in due course, without explicitly committing to longer-term, multi-year funding settlements.
Department for Education
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89 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Proposed Bill reforms empowering local authorities represent a positive step for SEND provision.
We welcome the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, particularly the proposed reforms that give local authorities a greater role in key decision- making areas such as the establishment of new schools, oversight of admissions, and the placement of pupils. These … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the report and highlights its commitment to reforming the SEND system to deliver excellent, inclusive education.
Department for Education
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94 Conclusion Acknowledged
5th Report - Solving the SEND Cris…
Mainstream and specialist SEND data remains limited and inconsistent for planning.
The data currently collected and available to the DfE on both mainstream and specialist SEND need is limited and inconsistent. Comprehensive data at the local, regional and national level is essential to assessing the sufficiency of capacity and determining funding … Read more
Government Response
The government thanks the committee for its recommendations, stating it will carefully consider them while engaging with stakeholders before publishing its SEND system plans in the forthcoming Schools White Paper.
Department for Education
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Government Response AI assessment · 95 of 27 classified
Accepted 26
Accepted in Part 12
Acknowledged 26
Deferred 14
Not Addressed 15
Rejected 2
Total 27 recs + 68 conclusions
Correspondence 17 letters
30 Apr 2026 From committee Letter to Secretary of State on response to SEND consultation dated 30.04.26
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30 Apr 2026 From committee Letter to Minister of State for School Standards on response to SEND consultation dated 28.04.26
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3 Mar 2026 To committee Letter from Secretary of State for Education on Schools White Paper and SEND Consultation, dated 23 February 2026
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6 Jan 2026 Correspondence with the Royal British Legion on Solving the SEND Crisis, dated 8.12.25 and 18.12.25
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6 Jan 2026 Correspondence with Minister for School Standards on supporting pupils with medical conditions dated 18.12.25
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9 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from Secretary of State for Education on Solving the SEND crisis, dated 28.11.25
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12 Nov 2025 From committee Letter to Secretary of State for Education on Schools White Paper, dated 11.11.25
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12 Nov 2025 From committee Letter to Secretary of State for Education on Schools White Paper, dated 11.11.25
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11 Nov 2025 From committee Letter to Joanna Parry National Officer Education and Children’s Services, UNISON on Solving the SEND Crisis Report dated 11.11.25
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11 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from Joanna Parry National Officer Education and Children’s Services, UNISON on Solving the SEND Crisis Report dated 10.10.25
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28 Oct 2025 To committee Letter from Chris Coghlan MP Member of Parliament for Dorking and Horley on Solving the SEND Crisis, dated 16.10.2025 and response dated 28.10.2025
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2 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from Joint Unions on Solving the SEND Crisis, dated 28.05.25
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22 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from Association of Educational Psychologists on Funding for training of educational psychologists, dated 07.07.25
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24 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from Adam Sproston HMI, Ofsted and Lucy Harte, Deputy Director, Multi-agency Operations, Care Quality Commission on Joint local area SEND inspections, dated 12.06.25
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24 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from Adam Sproston HMI, Ofsted on Multi-academy trust inspections and Complaints about Schools, dated 16.06.25
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20 May 2025 To committee Letter from Minister for School Standards on SEND White Paper 27.03.25
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11 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from Chair to Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister of State for School Standards, on Government SEND Policy, dated 11 March 202
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