Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
DfE acknowledges persistent failures in the SEN system and lack of improved outcomes.
Conclusion
The Department acknowledged that the SEN system is not working well enough and said it wanted to change the system.10 There has been no consistent improvement in outcomes for children and young people since
Government Response Summary
The Department acknowledges the variation in SEN support and states that it has already completed detailed work with local authorities to identify the drivers of these differences and secure improvements. They describe current work and publications regarding this issue.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.2 The Department for Education (the department) acknowledges the variation in the identification and support of Special Educational Needs (SEN) across different schools and 2 local authority areas and has completed detailed work with local authorities to identify the drivers of these differences and secure improvements in service delivery, including publishing performance data and findings that highlight best practices. 1.3 Since 2023 the Special Educational Needs and Disability and Alternative Provision Change Programme Partnerships (CPPs) have provided valuable practical insights and real- time learning through testing proposed reforms and effective practice. The insights were gathered through a field force working directly with CPPs and a feedback process run by an external delivery partner. Insight Guides, practice notes, and case studies have been shared among CPPs. 1.4 Launched in April 2022, the department-funded "What Works in SEND" programme generates high-quality research and offers resources on its website, including research reports, effective practice case studies, and an Implementation Toolkit. The programme is regularly promoted through newsletters, webinars, and other communications. 1.5 The department published an insights report in October 2024 with learning from the Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme, allowing other local authorities to engage effectively with their partners Guidance on our intervention work with local authorities. An accessible, self-service toolkit was also developed and published in October 2024 to structure learning and case studies from the DBV programme. 1.6 Additionally, in July 2021 the department published an insights report from the Safety Valve programme, entitled Creating sustainable high needs systems. 1.7 Work in the next 12 months will continue between the department and the sector to ensure that good practices from better-performing local authorities are regularly identified and disseminated.