A public engagement campaign on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has been launched to include local families in decisions about reforms.

The Department for Education has today announced that parents will be placed ‘at the heart’ of the ‘national conversation’ on the overhaul of the SEND system, with the campaign facilitating collaboration between families, local authorities and the Government, as well as the education, health, care and voluntary sectors.

According to the Government, the plan will be structured around the following five principles of reform: early intervention, local and special provision for complex needs, fairness – including legal safeguards, effective practice, and shared working.

The themes will be explored during nine sessions ran by the Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, and the Council for Disabled Children, creating ‘tens of thousands spaces for parents, families and the sector to share their views’.

Minister for School Standards Georgia Gould said: ‘For too long families have felt unheard and left to battle a system that simply doesn’t deliver for their children.

‘We’re committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity for children with SEND, which is why we’re putting lived experience at the heart of our reforms and creating a direct line to parents across the nation.

‘We want this to be the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation, and I urge parents, teachers and all those with views to participate and help us deliver lasting reform.’

Amanda Allard, Director of the Council for Disabled Children, said: ‘We encourage parent and carers, teachers, therapists, and professionals from councils, the youth justice system, the NHS, and the voluntary sector to share their insights, challenges, and questions.

‘By bringing together those who use the system of SEND support with those who provide it, we can learn what truly makes a difference in children’s lives and better understand the frustrations and barriers that need to be overcome.’

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