Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Acknowledged
Establish DfE to improve SEN data and create a costed plan with clear outcome metrics.
Conclusion
The Department’s ability to reform the system is hindered by a lack of data, targets and a clear, costed plan. The Department accepts the need for major change, but lacks a clear, costed plan to push forward reforms and measure progress. Despite taking years to develop a plan to address recognised challenges, the Department recognises it needs to be much clearer on what it needs to achieve, how and when, through a costed plan with interdependencies and metrics for progress and benefits. In setting out metrics, the Department conceded it needs to further develop how it will look beyond educational attainment to understand if the system is working, such as by considering attendance which may indicate children feeling supported. The Department has a long way to go to build data across a range of areas, such as on SEN mainstream schools places, home to school transport and whole system costs. It continues to test dashboards across 32 local authorities, but it is unclear how these data will be used and when. recommendation The Department should urgently improve its data, and then use this information to develop a new fully costed plan for improving the SEN system, with concrete actions, and clear interdependencies, alongside metrics to measure outcomes. 7 1 Support for children and their families Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, highlighting improvements to EHCP (SEN2) data collection from 2023 and the publication of SEND Futures study findings in December 2023. It notes an almost £1 billion funding increase announced in Autumn Budget 2024, but the comprehensive, fully costed plan for improving the SEN system with concrete actions and metrics is still pending, with further details expected later this year.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. the annual EHCP data collection (SEN2 data) from 2023. This change enables more detailed, granular analysis of EHC plans and the processes associated with it, providing deeper insights into specific patterns and trends to support decision-making. The department has also published findings from its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Futures longitudinal study discovery phase (December 2023), which is testing new ways to improve its data on the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND. At Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced an almost £1 billion increase to SEND and alternative provision funding. This is an important step in realising the government’s vision to reform England’s SEND provision to improve outcomes and return the system to financial sustainability. The government intends to set out plans for reforming the SEND system in further detail later this year. This will be underpinned by its objective to ensure local authorities can deliver high quality services for children and young people with SEND in a financially sustainable way. The government will work closely with parents, teachers and local authorities to take forward this work.