Governments response to report on Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEN)
The UK Government has published its formal response to the Public Accounts Committee’s 2024–25 report on Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This follows extensive scrutiny of how effectively the current SEND system is delivering for young people, including powerful contributions from the National Association of Independent Schools & Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS).
Key Points from the Government’s Response
1. Systemic Reform Acknowledged – But Implementation Remains Key
The Government reiterated its commitment to the SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, emphasising its focus on consistency, early intervention and improved outcomes. However, the PAC’s findings underline that many reforms are still in pilot stages, with families continuing to face significant barriers.
2. Accountability and Oversight
In response to concerns about poor accountability, the Government outlined plans to enhance local authority performance monitoring, including through Ofsted/CQC area SEND inspections and clearer escalation routes for underperformance.
3. Funding Pressures and Value for Money
While acknowledging increases to the High Needs Budget, the PAC noted ongoing concerns about sustainability and cost-effectiveness. The Government confirmed continued investment but also stressed the importance of better commissioning and local provision planning.
4. EHCP Delays and Inconsistencies
The Government recognised issues with Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) delays and pledged to standardise processes via a new digital EHCP template. However, clarity on delivery timelines remains limited.
5. Parental Confidence and Trust
Echoing the PAC’s concerns, the response noted the need to rebuild trust with families. The introduction of SEND case officers and improved mediation routes were highlighted, but cultural change across services will be critical.
NASS Evidence
During the PAC inquiry, NASS provided compelling evidence on the value of specialist independent and non-maintained schools, particularly for children with the most complex needs. NASS advocated for:
- Recognition of specialist provision as a vital part of the SEND landscape—not a last resort.
- The importance of working in partnership with local authorities to plan placements early and avoid crisis-driven decisions.
- Fairer commissioning practices to ensure children’s needs are met without unnecessary delay or cost-driven barriers.
Their contribution helped spotlight the lived reality of children and families navigating the system—and the essential role that specialist schools play when mainstream settings cannot meet need.
Conclusion
The Government’s response to the PAC is a step forward in recognising the system’s flaws—but it will be judged by what happens on the ground. As NASS and others have stressed, the real measure of progress is whether children and young people with SEND receive the support they need, when they need it.
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