SEND Review
Have your say on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) system in England.
Find out about the SEND and alternative provision green paper.
How you can get involved
We want to hear from a wide range of people, including:
- parents and carers
- children and young people
- people working in the SEND and alternative provision system
You can share your views on our proposals by responding to our public consultation before Friday 22 July 2022.
Supporting resources
There are resources to help you understand the proposals on GOV.UK, including:
- a British Sign Language (BSL) version of the green paper
- an easy-read version of the green paper summary
- a guide to help children and young people with SEND or those in alternative provision
We’ve also translated the information into:
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Polish
- Punjabi (Gurmukhi)
- Somali
- Urdu
If you would like a Braille or audio version of the SEND and alternative provision green paper, or an accessible format that is not listed, please email: sendreview.consultation@education.gov.uk.
Consultation events
We’re planning a series of events with different organisations whilst the consultation is open. These organisations represent:
- children and young people
- parents and carers
- education workforces, including early years, schools, alternative provision and further education
- health and social care workforces
- local government
- voluntary sector including information, advice and support services
Workshops with children and young people
A children and young people version of the consultation is available on GOV.UK.
We are working with the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and Council for Disabled Children to support children and young people to answer these questions. These sessions will give them the opportunity to hear more about the proposals and ask questions to help inform their response.
Workshops with the sector
Working together with sector-led organisations we’re running some face-to-face and virtual workshops. They will give you the opportunity to hear more about the proposals and ask questions.
A video recording of a SEND and alternative provision green paper workshop, including information about the questions being asked and how to respond, is available to watch on YouTube.
The National Network for Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) are running regional SEND Review events throughout May and June. These events are open to forum members. You can join a regional forum via the NNPCF website.
We are attending national sector-led events, including:
We will update this page with more information about further sessions as they become available to book.
What is the SEND Review?
The Department for Education (DfE) published the SEND and alternative provision green paper on Tuesday 29 March 2022.
It sets out our proposals for a system that offers children and young people the opportunity to thrive, with access to the right support, in the right place, and at the right time, so they can fulfil their potential and lead happy, healthy and productive adult lives.
We’re proposing to do this by:
- creating a single, national SEND and alternative provision system
- providing excellent provision from early years to adulthood
- introducing a reformed and integrated role for alternative provision, for children who can’t attend mainstream school, whether for behavioural, health or other needs
- reforming system roles, funding and accountability
Every child has the right to excellent education - particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities, who often need the most support.
The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP, Secretary of State for Education
I want to make sure everyone knows what to expect, when to expect it and where the support should come from. I know there are strongly held views and I want to hear from as many parents, teachers and children with experience of the system so they can help shape a future policy that works for them.
Who has informed the review
Since announcing the review, we’ve met with a wide range of people from across the system to gather their views and supporting evidence. The SEND and alternative provision green paper sets out our response to this feedback.
The government has been advised by a SEND Review steering group. For a full list of steering group members, visit GOV.UK.
Where to find support
For further information about children with SEND, visit GOV.UK.
The charity Contact provides a range of services including a telephone helpline, live chat and Listening Ear support service.
The Information, Advice and Support Programme (IASS) provides access to free and impartial information, advice and support on SEND issues in every local authority area.