The Department for Education is testing new guidance on what schools should reasonably be expected to provide for children with SEND. But could this create more confusion for families?
A new report from Tes has revealed that the Department for Education (DfE) is developing guidance setting out what could be considered ‘reasonable’ and ‘unreasonable’ adjustments for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The draft documents, currently being shared with academy trust leaders, form part of the Government’s wider ambition to make mainstream schools more inclusive.
But what does this actually mean for children, parents and schools?
The DfE is testing examples of how schools might respond to individual needs, alongside its proposed national inclusion standards.
One example involves a child with sensory processing difficulties who struggles with changes to routine and attending school. Suggested reasonable adjustments include:
Another example considers a child who needs their mobile phone to monitor a medical condition. Allowing access for medical purposes could be reasonable, whereas unrestricted use for unrelated activities might not be.
Importantly, these documents are still drafts and do not represent final Government policy.
This is where we need to ask some difficult questions.
Under the Equality Act 2010, schools already have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils. This is not new legislation, nor is it something that families should have to wait for SEND reform to access.
For years, parents have been fighting for relatively straightforward adjustments that could make the difference between a child accessing education and becoming increasingly disengaged from school.
Flexible arrivals, sensory breaks, adapted environments and predictable routines are not revolutionary concepts. They are examples of inclusive practice that many schools are already delivering successfully.
The concern is whether introducing national examples of what is considered ‘reasonable’ could lead to some schools treating these as fixed limits, rather than recognising that reasonable adjustments must be considered in the context of each individual child.
At The SEN Expert, we welcome any genuine attempt to improve inclusive practice in mainstream schools.
However, inclusion is not simply about introducing a quiet room, offering a visual timetable or allowing a child to arrive ten minutes early.
For some children, these adjustments can be transformative. For others, they will be nowhere near sufficient.
A child experiencing severe emotionally based school avoidance, for example, may require a fundamentally different educational approach rather than adjustments designed solely to support their return to a mainstream classroom.
We must be careful that the drive towards mainstream inclusion does not become an expectation that every child should be able to cope in mainstream education if enough adjustments are made.
True inclusion is about providing the right education for the individual child, not making the child fit the system.
The most important message is that your child’s existing legal rights have not changed because the Government is developing new guidance.
Schools must continue to consider their duties under the Equality Act 2010, and local authorities remain responsible for securing the special educational provision specified in Section F of an EHCP.
If a school tells you that an adjustment is unreasonable, you can ask for a clear explanation of how that decision was reached, what alternatives have been considered and how your child’s individual needs have been taken into account.
A national example cannot, on its own, determine what is reasonable for every child.
We absolutely need better SEND practice in mainstream schools. We need confident teachers, knowledgeable leaders and inclusive classrooms where children feel safe, understood and able to learn.
But we also need to recognise that some children require specialist provision, alternative approaches or education outside a traditional school environment.
The success of these reforms should not be measured by how many children remain in mainstream classrooms. It should be measured by whether children are receiving an education that genuinely meets their needs.
And that must remain at the heart of every conversation about SEND reform.
The SEN Expert joins forces with leading SEND campaigners to help secure a Parliamentary debate.
This month, we are celebrating a huge milestone for the SEND community!
A petition started by teenage autistic campaigner Tee-Jay, calling on the Government to protect the legal rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), has officially passed 100,000 signatures!
At The SEN Expert, we have been proud to work alongside other well-known voices, advocates and organisations in the SEND space to raise awareness, share the petition and encourage families and professionals across the country to make their voices heard.
And what an incredible response we’ve seen!
As the Government moves forward with its proposed SEND reforms, there are growing concerns that some of the existing legal protections families rely upon could be weakened. These include:
At The SEN Expert, we see every day just how important these protections are. Families are already fighting incredibly hard to secure the education their children are legally entitled to.
The answer to a SEND system in crisis cannot be to make those rights harder to access or enforce.
We absolutely support meaningful reform, earlier intervention and better inclusive practice in schools. But this must strengthen the support available to children, not undermine the legal protections that exist to safeguard them.
What makes this achievement particularly special is that the petition was started by a young person who understands first-hand the importance of receiving the right educational support.
Tee-Jay’s determination has inspired an extraordinary collective effort, bringing together parents, professionals, campaigners and organisations, including the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign.
We have been delighted to play our part alongside so many passionate voices in the sector.
Reaching 100,000 signatures is no small achievement. It demonstrates the strength of feeling amongst families and professionals who want to see genuine improvements to the SEND system without sacrificing children’s rights.
Reaching 100,000 signatures means the petition qualifies for consideration for a debate in Parliament, giving MPs an important opportunity to scrutinise the proposed changes and hear the concerns of the SEND community.
Whilst this milestone does not automatically guarantee changes to legislation, it ensures that the voices of more than 100,000 people cannot easily be ignored.
And the work doesn’t stop here.
We will continue to advocate for a SEND system that is accountable, properly funded and centred around the individual needs of every child.
To everyone who signed, shared, posted, talked to friends or encouraged others to get involved, thank you.
This is what happens when the SEND community comes together.
And a particularly huge congratulations to Tee-Jay, whose determination has helped bring this important issue back into the national spotlight.
Our message remains clear: reform the SEND system, but protect the rights of the children who depend on it.
At The SEN Expert, we’ve always believed that SEND support shouldn’t stop at the school gates. For many families, navigating the complexities of the SEND system has a significant impact on their working lives, relationships and wellbeing. Equally, neurodivergent employees deserve workplaces where they feel understood, supported and able to thrive.
That’s why we’ve been so excited to see the conversations our Employee Benefit Offer has been opening up across the corporate world.
We’ve recently written a free guide exploring the importance of supporting employees who are parents and carers of children with SEND, and the wider benefits of creating genuinely neuroinclusive workplaces.
The response has been fantastic, sparking some really important conversations about the challenges employees face, often silently, whilst trying to balance their professional responsibilities with advocating for their children.
From navigating EHCPs and school placements to managing school avoidance, appointments and the emotional demands of parenting a child with additional needs, the impact on working families can be enormous.
Our message is simple: supporting employees with SEND responsibilities isn’t just a wellbeing initiative. It’s an investment in your people.
We’ve also had the pleasure of delivering some impactful training within the marketing industry, focusing on understanding neurodiversity and building more neuroinclusive working environments.
These sessions have explored how neurodivergence can present in professional settings, the barriers employees may experience and, most importantly, the practical changes organisations can make to help their teams thrive.
What has been particularly encouraging is the willingness of businesses to engage in honest conversations, challenge assumptions and recognise that neuroinclusion is about far more than policies or awareness days.
It’s about creating cultures where different ways of thinking, communicating and working are genuinely valued.
Through The SEN Expert’s Employee Benefit Offer, we support organisations to better understand and respond to the needs of their employees. Our offer brings together:
Whether that’s helping a parent navigate a difficult EHCP process, supporting an employee to understand their own neurodivergence or giving managers the confidence to create more inclusive teams, our aim is to make specialist support accessible when it matters most.
The conversations we’re having with businesses are incredibly encouraging. There is a growing recognition that meaningful inclusion needs to extend beyond education and into the workplaces where parents, carers and neurodivergent adults spend so much of their lives.
And we’re delighted to be helping organisations turn those conversations into meaningful action.
Interested in finding out more? Get in touch to request our free guide or explore how The SEN Expert’s Employee Benefit Offer and neuroinclusion training could support your organisation.
The SEN Expert | Supporting families, empowering workplaces and championing meaningful inclusion.
The SEN Expert offers a range of services for young people, families and schools. We offer support for parents to help navigate the complex world of Special Educational Needs. We will work with you closely to ensure the best for your child.
The SEN Expert was set up by Claire in 2021 following a successful career spanning 12 years in school improvement, special educational needs, safeguarding and the arts.
Claire has worked as a Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, Consultant and SENCO in both state and private schools in inner city London, the Southwest, the Midlands and the USA.
Throughout her career, Claire has ensured solid outcomes for the young people she has worked with. Be that a set of good exam grades, a placement in specialist setting or getting a part time job.
Claire is a working mother, and understands the challenges parents face trying to ensure their children are happy and successful. We aim to provide young people with a creative route to the personal and professional adult life they deserve.
We offer support for families, children, and schools to navigate the complex world of SEN.
Check out our full list of services at our website www.thesenexpert.co.uk or follow us on Instagram @senexpert for daily advice on special educational needs.