SEND Reforms Delayed Until 2027: But Will Children’s Rights Be Protected?

The Government has confirmed that its long-awaited Education for All Bill, which will introduce major changes to the SEND system, will not be published until early 2027.

As highlighted in a recent Special Needs Jungle article, serious questions remain about whether ministers will reconsider proposals that could significantly weaken the legal rights of children with SEND. Of particular concern are potential restrictions on:

• Parental choice of school.
• The powers of the SEND Tribunal.
• The enforceability of Individual Support Plans.
• Access to Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS).

Although Education Secretary Lucy Powell has indicated that the Government is still considering how families will challenge decisions, no firm commitments have been made to protect existing rights.

At The SEN Expert, we wholeheartedly support meaningful reform, earlier intervention and better inclusion in mainstream education. However, improving provision must never come at the expense of children’s legal protections.

The current system is failing too many families, not because children have too many rights, but because those rights are too frequently ignored or inadequately enforced.

Having worked alongside other SEND organisations through the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign, we will continue to advocate for reforms that strengthen accountability, protect parental choice and ensure every child receives the education they are legally entitled to.

Families need more than promises of a better system. They need enforceable rights, genuine accountability and a Government prepared to listen.

SEND Failures Under Scrutiny: When Will Local Authorities Be Held Accountable?

A deeply troubling investigation by The Independent has highlighted the devastating consequences of failures within the SEND system, including the heartbreaking story of 13-year-old Eivie White, who died by suicide in 2023 following years of difficulties accessing appropriate educational support.

Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan has gathered 1,253 testimonies from families across 134 local authorities, including reports involving 205 suicide attempts by children and parents. He is now calling for allegations of serious misconduct by councils to be investigated by the police, raising urgent questions about accountability and the protection of vulnerable children.

At The SEN Expert, we regularly witness the emotional, financial and psychological toll that fighting for appropriate SEND provision places on families. Parents should not have to become legal experts, exhaust their savings or watch their children’s mental health deteriorate simply to secure support that should already be in place.

What makes these revelations particularly alarming is that the Government is considering reforms to the very legal protections families rely upon to challenge local authority decisions.

We believe that the answer to a failing SEND system is not to weaken children’s rights, but to strengthen accountability, enforce existing legislation and ensure that local authorities face meaningful consequences when they fail in their statutory duties.

Eivie’s story is a heartbreaking reminder that behind every delayed assessment, inadequate EHCP and disputed placement is a child whose wellbeing and future may depend on getting that support right.

SEND reform must put children’s safety, dignity and legal rights before budgets and bureaucracy.

If this story has affected you

You can talk to Samaritans for free, at any time, on 116 123.

If you are worried about a young person, or you are under 35 and struggling, Papyrus HOPELINE247 is on 0800 068 4141.

Shaping the Next Generation of Teachers: The SEN Expert Partners with the University of Roehampton

At The SEN Expert, we’ve always believed that the key to creating a genuinely inclusive education system starts with how we train our teachers. That’s why we’re delighted to be working with the University of Roehampton to deliver specialist inclusive teaching training to its Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students.

For too long, newly qualified teachers have entered classrooms feeling underprepared to support the growing number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). With increasingly diverse classrooms and rising levels of need, understanding inclusive teaching should never be an optional extra. It must be at the heart of teacher training.

Our collaboration with Roehampton focuses on equipping the next generation of teachers with practical, evidence-informed strategies that they can use from their very first day in the classroom. Through our Four Pillars of Inclusive Teaching framework, trainees will explore how to:

• Adapt teaching.
• Recognise and respond to different learning needs.
• Create supportive classroom environments.
• Build positive relationships that enable every pupil to thrive.

Importantly, this isn’t simply about understanding different diagnoses or learning SEND terminology. It’s about developing the confidence and skills to teach children with a wide range of needs, removing barriers to learning before they become entrenched and recognising that inclusive teaching is good teaching.

Having worked with hundreds of schools and families across the country, we see firsthand the difference that knowledgeable, confident teachers can make. We also see the consequences when SEND is misunderstood or support is introduced too late. By bringing our experience of SEND leadership, classroom practice and advocacy directly into initial teacher education, we hope to help bridge the gap between theory and the realities of today’s classrooms.

If we want to change outcomes for children with SEND, we need to start at the beginning of a teacher’s career, not wait until difficulties arise.

We are particularly excited about the potential for this work to influence teacher training more widely. At The SEN Expert, we’re proud to play a part in preparing the next generation of educators and helping to build a future where inclusion is not an intervention, but an expectation.

Are you a university, teacher training provider or school trust looking to strengthen your inclusive teaching offer? We’d love to hear from you about how The SEN Expert can support your trainees and teaching teams. Get in touch.

Supporting the People Who Support Our Children: Introducing The SEN Expert’s SENCO Coaching Programme

Being a SENCO has never been more challenging. With increasing numbers of pupils requiring additional support, growing pressure on school budgets, complex statutory responsibilities and rising expectations from families, SENCOs are often expected to do more with less. And while they spend their days advocating for children and supporting colleagues, who is supporting the SENCO?

At The SEN Expert, we believe that confident, knowledgeable and well-supported SENCOs are fundamental to creating genuinely inclusive schools. That’s why we’ve developed our SENCO Coaching Programme, providing personalised, practical support to SENCOs and school leaders who want to strengthen SEND provision, improve outcomes and feel more confident in their roles.

Led by experienced SEND professionals with backgrounds in senior school leadership, SENCO practice, safeguarding and SEND law, our programme goes far beyond traditional professional development. We work alongside SENCOs to tackle the real challenges they face every day, including:

• Developing effective provision maps.
• Strengthening EHCP processes.
• Managing complex cases.
• Improving inclusive classroom practice.
• Securing additional funding.
• Navigating difficult conversations with local authorities and families.

This isn’t another training course that leaves you with a folder of resources and a longer to-do list.

It’s hands-on coaching, tailored to your school, your pupils and your priorities. Whether you’re a newly appointed SENCO finding your feet, an experienced practitioner managing an increasingly complex caseload, or a senior leader looking to transform your school’s SEND offer, our coaching provides the expertise, reassurance and strategic direction to make meaningful change.

Six or twelve weeks, built around your school

Our flexible programmes can run over six or twelve weeks, combining in-school support with optional weekly online coaching sessions.

We can also support schools with SEND audits, statutory compliance, staff development, strategic planning and preparation for inspection.

At The SEN Expert, we know that when SENCOs thrive, children benefit. Investing in your SENCO isn’t simply investing in one member of staff; it’s investing in the quality of education, inclusion and support available to every child in your school.

Ready to give your SENCO the support they deserve? Get in touch to discuss a bespoke coaching programme for your school or trust.

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