Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs: Experts Call for Systemic Reform

As the Government aims to improve inclusivity in mainstream education settings for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), experts have highlighted the need for systemic reform to address the inconsistency in support and resources across schools. Tom Rees, chairman of the Department for Education's expert advisory group on inclusion, has emphasized the importance of putting children's needs at the centre of the Send system, rather than relying on "labels". The review, published on Thursday, showed that while there are "pockets of effective and evidence-informed practice" in mainstream settings, there is still a long way to go in achieving inclusivity.

Key Takeaways:

• The Department for Education's expert advisory group on inclusion, led by Tom Rees, has called for systemic reform to address the inconsistency in support and resources for children with Send.
• The review highlighted "promising" inclusive practice in mainstream settings, but also showed "inconsistency" in training, support, guidance, and resources across schools and colleges.
• The report recommends a shift in focus from "labels" to meeting the individual needs of children with Send.
• The review highlights the importance of evidence-based practice and smarter systems to support teachers and schools.
• Mr. Rees emphasized that there is a "lot of work that needs to be done" to make mainstream schools more inclusive for pupils with special needs.
• Parents need to have confidence that their child's needs can be met within a mainstream school, which will improve the quality of education for all children.

Statistics:

• 638,745 Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) were in place in January, up 10.8% on the same point last year.
• The number of EHCPs has increased, indicating a growing need for support for children with Send.

Sources:

• Department for Education's March review on inclusion in mainstream settings, published on Thursday.
• Tom Rees, chairman of the Department for Education's expert advisory group on inclusion, quoted in the review.
• Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's statement on the Government's Plan for Change to improve support for children with Send.