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At Academy21, we see every day the pressure schools face in supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Across the country, teachers and leaders are doing their utmost, yet rising demand, stretched resources, and lengthy waits for external support mean many children are still missing out on the tailored support they need to thrive.

Why change is urgent

The challenges are well known: schools are balancing increasingly complex needs with limited capacity, and systemic reform takes time. The role of the school leader and teacher has expanded and the whole premise of support at the individual level requires a level of resource that is not there – we need radical and innovative thinking around capacity building. Additions to remits, capital funding, higher thresholds will only be a temporary fix.

While future-proof improvements are crucial, urgent action is needed now to prevent children from falling behind. What is needed is a combination of long-term reform and immediate solutions that increase capacity, provide flexibility, and deliver specialist support quickly. Digital education is one such solution.

How online learning can help solve SEND challenges

High-quality, accredited online teaching allows schools to supplement existing provision, giving pupils access to expert educators when physical classrooms or resource bases cannot meet their needs. Online learning is not a replacement - it is a bridge, keeping students engaged, supported, and progressing while other interventions take effect.

For children with SEND, access to expert teaching can be limited by geography, staffing, or health constraints. Accredited digital education allows schools to:

Increase specialist capacity quickly: Online lessons connect students with expert teachers in subjects that schools may struggle to staff, from maths and science to languages and creative arts.

• Deliver timely, flexible interventions: Learners can access support exactly when they need it, reducing the risk of small difficulties turning into long-term gaps in progress.
• Support reintegration into mainstream education: Students who cannot attend school full-time for medical or emotional reasons can continue learning online, maintaining continuity and confidence until they are ready to rejoin classrooms.
• Complement existing provision safely and effectively: Online learning operates within recognised frameworks for curriculum standards and safeguarding, ensuring high-quality support without replacing in-person teaching.

Crucially, digital provision offers flexibility at scale. While long-term structural reforms to SEND support are essential, online learning can be implemented immediately, providing children with the interventions they need without waiting months or years for system-wide change.

Learning from global examples

Countries like Singapore and Estonia show the potential of well-integrated digital learning. What’s more Singapore remain top of the most recent PISA rankings and Estonia first in Europe. It is no coincidence both have embraced online learning on a national scale.

In Singapore, online learning is embedded into the secondary school curriculum as part of their Transforming Education through Technology: Masterplan 2030. Structured home-based learning days are part of the timetable and time spent in online classes is enshrined in the curriculum, bringing versatility and capacity. This promotes equality of access, builds digital skills and helps students stay independent learners without compromising standards.

Estonia, heralded as one of Europe’s highest ranking education systems, also champions the role of technology – termed a ‘social lift’. Online classes, digital materials are enhancing the accessibility of education and national leaders celebrate this use of technology because they recognise the value of students having access to great material and great teachers.

These examples show that technology can be a strategic lever to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for all learners. The UK already has frameworks for high-quality, safe online provision. It also has incredible technology companies and a skilled population. The next step is to make digital learning a central part of the national SEND strategy to provide instant capacity for short term placements and long term assistive technology use.

The role of online learning in UK schools

Online teaching is already helping thousands of schools across the country. It supports learners who cannot attend full-time due to health, mental health or other challenges. It also addresses teacher shortages, particularly in specialised subjects, by giving students consistent access to expert teaching.

Perhaps most importantly, online learning can prevent small challenges from becoming crises. By providing timely intervention, schools can keep pupils engaged, maintain curriculum continuity, and help learners reintegrate successfully when they are ready.

A vision for the future

At Academy21, we believe every child deserves excellent teaching, no matter their circumstances. Digital solutions, integrated alongside traditional provision, can strengthen schools’ capacity, ensure timely support, and expand opportunities for children who might otherwise be left behind.

The SEND challenge is significant, but it is not insurmountable. By embracing innovation and acting boldly, we can create an education system that truly works for every child; one that is flexible, inclusive and future-ready. Every young person waiting for support today deserves nothing less.

Alessandro Capozzi
Director of operations, Academy21