We know from the details of the Schools White Paper and SEND consultation that all schools will be required to publish an annual inclusion strategy by the end of 2026, and then update it every year.
The requirement is timed so that schools will be able to take into account the needs of their September cohorts and is, in principle, very welcome because it represents a fundamental shift in inclusion, moving it from tick-box compliance towards a concrete strategy for action.
This approach needs to be built on a deep understanding of SEND and inclusion practice on the ground, and the practical work that needs to happen in order to meet that deadline will be substantial.
Getting started
Many will see it as yet more work on top of a dozen other priorities, but it must be done and there are steps that you and your teams can take now to get that process moving.
Some trusts will already have developed a coherent SEND and inclusion strategy but for others this will be an area in need of rapid development.
They will need a clear picture of where they are and what they need to do in the seven inclusion areas (see panel) and produce a strategy that will need to:
· Identify predictable needs within their pupil population
· Show how the school will resource and deliver inclusion, using core funding, notional SEN funding, and the Inclusive Mainstream Fund
· Align activity with seven defined inclusion areas.
· Be evidence-based, publicly accessible, Ofsted ready, and scrutinised by governors/trustees
We’ve developed a new evaluation tool called SEND Lens to help trusts and schools begin and support that process.
It contains questions formulated by triangulating key themes from the Ofsted framework, Schools White Paper and SEND Consultation and the existing statutory compliance, including the SEND Code of Practice and legislation.
The tool provides a systemic framework to evaluate an existing inclusion strategy to enable the development of a new one that mirrors the vision set out by the Schools White Paper.
Key questions to kick-start your strategy
Here are 12 key questions to help you determine where your trust is in two key areas: professional learning and workforce development and the early and accurate identification of SEND needs – crucial elements of the seven inclusion areas described by the government.
Professional learning and workforce development
- Is SEND professional development included within a whole school improvement plan?
- Do TAs and pastoral leads receive regular, high quality professional development to support identification of need?
- Have teachers received training on effective TA deployment?
- Does the SENCo hold (or is working towards) the NASENCO Award/NPQ SENCo?
- Are supply staff intentionally onboarded with necessary information to support SEND pupils
- Do you have a system for assessing the impact of professional development activities and programmes?
Early and accurate identification of SEND needs
- Does the school review whether specialist services are used in a timely and efficient way to support effective identification of need?
- Is there a reliable system for early identification and accurate assessment of pupils’ additional needs (with clear timescales and record-keeping)?
- Does the school have a detailed SEND register in place demonstrating specificity of cohort needs and an analysis of this?
- Do the SENCo and SLT regularly interrogate identification of need data against local and national trends?
- Is there a clear graduated approach process in place, used consistently by teachers?
- Is there a strategic approach to screening pupils both at transition points and when presentation of need might indicate this is necessary, and an understanding of how to interpret these to identify barriers to learning?
These questions are sourced from the SEND Lens evaluation tool, which is designed to help trusts and schools assess their performance in a range of crucial SEND areas, including leadership, governance and professional development.
SEND Lens, which is part of Supporting Education Group’s new SEND and Inclusion Hub, can be used to help trusts and schools prepare their inclusion strategies in readiness for the 31 December deadline.
Used within the SEND Lens tool, your responses to these questions will inform an analysis of strengths and weaknesses and provide actionable recommendations that will move your school or trust towards embedding inclusion into everyday practice.
Everyone is hoping that the SEND legislation does deliver on its promises. The emerging details are encouraging and show an impatience to move beyond compliance towards practical, concrete action. Knowing where your school and trust is on SEND and inclusion readiness is the first, important step.
For more information about SEND Lens and other SEND support and resources from Supporting Education Group go to sendandinclusion.com
*A fuller version of this article can be found in the Summer print issue of SENDsational Futures.
