Commenting as the government today (Mon 23 Feb) publishes its plans for SEND education as laid out in its White Paper, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, which represents leaders in the majority of school in England, said:

“We welcome the publication of the government’s White Paper today, and are cautiously optimistic that it contains the foundation of a successful new approach to SEND education.

“The current SEND system isn’t working, financially or in terms of the education and care it delivers. Although change to that system will certainly cause anxiety, for schools and parents, this government is to be commended for finally tackling a broken system that desperately needed reform. It is important that everyone considers the plans, takes part in the consultation, and works together to create change for the most vulnerable children.

“We believe the government’s approach of looking at the whole child, from birth to adulthood, is the right one, with a focus on early intervention, local provision, inclusion of pupils within mainstream settings where appropriate, and collaboration with external services like social care and health.

“Crucially, the success or failure of these plans relies on there being sufficient funding – and on the availability of support services. The money announced is significant, and it is good that it is largely aimed directly at schools. We will now be looking closely at the details and speaking to school leaders across the country to assess the viability of the proposals and whether the investment is enough.”