Ahead of the 2024 general election, Tom brought to the fore four crucial policies for the long-term transformation of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.
In the article, he reflects that a lack of policy attention on SEND over the past decade has led to little improvement in delivery, despite significant increases in funding.
Tom highlights that almost 40 per cent of young people are now assigned the label of SEND at some point in their school career – a figure clearly too high to address through specialist or personalised intervention alone.
He also highlights that, unlike other important policy areas, there is little in the way of comprehensive end-state policy solutions for the SEND system. He outlines four policies which should feature in a reform programme:
- A new promise of dignity, not deficit
- Investment in school workforce expertise
- Early and evidence-informed intervention
- A national commission on specialist placements