Commenting on the submission, ASCL’s SEND and inclusion specialist Margaret Mulholland said: “It has been abundantly clear for some time that major changes were required to the special needs system, but implementing them successfully is another matter entirely. We strongly welcome the government’s ambitious reforms and desire for an education system that works better for everyone. 

“There is no getting away from the fact that the additional expectations on mainstream schools are massive. These demands involve not only putting in place more support for children with complex needs, but also meeting wider legal responsibilities. For this reason it is absolutely critical that schools have clear and timely guidance to help them meet these new obligations. For example, there is now an expectation for all schools to have an inclusion base, yet no real information on what this should look like. Schools need support to ensure they make best use of the resources available to them. Building inclusive mainstream provision requires careful sequencing and the government must avoid putting the cart before the horse.

“The government’s reforms have the potential to do a huge amount of good, but they must help schools deliver them. Guidance must then be backed up by adequate staffing, funding, and time for preparation – including training where necessary. Without this, there is a serious risk that schools will be placed in an impossible position, relationships with parents will be damaged, and children will be left without the support they need. The government must match the ambition of these reforms with timely guidance and the funding necessary to deliver them so that we can build a truly inclusive system.”

ASCL’s full consultation response is available here.