Recommendation 78

The current failure to embed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as a shared priority across government departments is not just a policy oversight, it is a profound injustice to some of the most vulnerable children in our society. It is evident that SEND is not sufficiently seen as a priority by the health system. The education system is increasingly shouldering the weight of responsibilities for supporting children and young people with SEND that should, in part, be met by health services. This chronic imbalance places unsustainable pressure on schools, multi- academy trusts and local authorities and undermines the principle of joint responsibility set out in the SEND Code of Practice. The erosion of funding to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), alongside ongoing structural upheaval within the health sector, risk further weakening the capacity of health services to meet their statutory duties. If we are serious about improving outcomes for children with SEND, then coordinated investment, shared accountability, and genuine cross-departmental collaboration must become non- negotiable. Without it, the burden will continue to fall disproportionately on schools and local authorities, compromising outcomes for children and placing additional strain on an already stretched education system. (Conclusion, Paragraph 275) 172