Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point a
The Department should prepare for the next full Spending Review by making an evidence-based assessment of how much it would cost to provide the system for supporting pupils with SEND created by the 2014 reforms. It should use this assessment to determine whether the system is affordable, and to inform its funding and spending plans.
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· 03/2022
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point b
The Department should set quantified goals, for 2020-21 onwards, including outcome measures such as metrics relating to preparing young people for adulthood, to make clear what level of performance would constitute success for the support provided for pupils with SEND. It should put in place mechanisms to collect the data needed to assess progress against these measures, including tracking long-term outcomes.
Response position:
Partially accepted
Delivery:
In progress
· 03/2027
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point c
The Department should review the incentives in the funding arrangements and the accountability system, and make changes that encourage and support mainstream schools to be more inclusive in terms of admitting, retaining and meeting the needs of pupils with SEND, whether they have EHC plans or require other support.
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
No longer relevant
· Awaiting opportunity
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point d
The Department should identify and share good practice on how mainstream schools can effectively meet the needs of those pupils with SEND who do not have EHC plans.
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· 02/2026
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point e
The Department should set out publicly the circumstances under which it considers public money should be used to pay for independent provision for pupils with SEND. The aim should be for the amount that local authorities pay for independent provision to be comparable with the amount paid for state provision for children with similar needs, unless there is a good reason for paying more.
Response position:
Partially accepted
Delivery:
No longer relevant
· Awaiting opportunity
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point f
The Department should work with Ofsted to identify what more can be done to make inspections of mainstream schools, in particular short inspections, provide more assurance specifically about SEND provision that is easily accessible and clear to parents
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· 09/2019
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Education · Source location: Page 12, point g
The Department should more robustly investigate the reasons for local variations, drawing on the data available and supported by its specialist advisers and NHS England, and establish the extent to which the variations can reasonably be explained. It should challenge local areas that are outliers in respect of measures such as the proportion of pupils with EHC plans and use of high-cost provision, in order to reduce unnecessary variation, increase confidence in the fairness of the system, identify good practice and promote improvement.
Response position:
Partially accepted
Delivery:
No longer relevant
· Awaiting opportunity
· Confirmed by NAO