IPSEA publishes manifesto on how to make the SEND system work

IPSEA has published a manifesto for making the Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) system work so children and young people have improved access to special educational provision and support that meets their needs, a legal right that is often widely disregarded.

It says that too many children and young people are not getting the education and support they need, with long-term consequences for their educational outcomes and overall wellbeing.

It comes as local councils say they could face a deficit of almost £1 billion in their budget to support children with SEND. The figures from the BBC were obtained after it contacted 153 councils in England to request their financial forecasts for this year, of which 113 responded.

There are currently over 1.5 million pupils in England have SEND, but only 517,049 pupils in schools in England have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which is a document which details the education, health and social care needs of a child or young person.

IPSEA launch manifesto on the SEND system

The number of children and young people with SEND who get support through a statutory plan has more than doubled since the SEND reforms were launched in September 2014. However, at least one in four of these requests was refused by local authorities in 2023. This is despite 98% of appeals to the SEND Tribunal finding in favour of families.

IPSEA is calling on political parties and general election candidates to commit themselves to:

Applying the law on supporting children and young people with SEND – this can be done by finding a way to ensure that local authorities fulfil their statutory duties. Non-compliance with SEND law should become unacceptable and unaffordable for local authorities and schools. The outcome will be better provision for individual children and young people, and fewer appeals to the SEND Tribunal.
Maintaining children and young people’s existing rights and entitlements – the existing SEND framework has the potential to transform the provision and support that children and young people with SEND receive, if it is fully implemented. The system does not need to be reformed again, just made to work as it should.
Making mainstream schools more inclusive for everyone – an urgent need for a change in the culture that too often prevails in schools, to one in which differences are accepted, reasonable adjustments are made based on children’s individual needs, and training is provided to all school staff.
Making the SEND system more accountable – thousands of children are without a school place that meets their needs, and children with SEND are disproportionately excluded from school. This has long-term consequences for their academic progress and overall wellbeing.

The charity added: “Children and young people’s rights and entitlements are clearly defined in the existing SEND legal framework, but too many children and young people with SEND do not receive the special educational provision and support they need.

“The upcoming general election is an opportunity to ensure that SEND receives the necessary political focus to bring about meaningful change. By implementing the recommendations outlined in this manifesto, the next government can secure a future where children and young people with SEND receive the education they are entitled to by law.”

Last week new figures from Institute for Fiscal Studies showed that the increase in the number of children receiving support for SEND over the past decade has led to an £3.5 billion increase in school spending. It warned that given the extent of the pressures, it should be a major priority to find better ways to meet needs in an effective manner and ensure the system is financially sustainable.

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies. She is also a mother to a gorgeous 13-year-old boy who has a learning disability.

See Full Bio