About The SEND Green Paper

The Department for Education (DfE) has published its long-awaited ’Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provisions (AP): right support, right place, right time’ green paper.

The green paper highlights three main challenges the current SEND and AP system faces:

• Navigating the system can be difficult for learners and their families.
• Outcomes for learners within these settings are consistently lower compared to their peers.
• It is not financially stable.

The green paper sets out a vision for a single national SEND and AP system. One which will introduce new standards in quality and accessibility; enabling learners to get the right support at the right time and in the right place, so they can fulfil their potential and lead productive adult lives.

The consultation closed on 22 July 2022 at 11:45pm.

What is the green paper proposing?

DfE has acknowledged that there is too much variation between and within schools, regions and local authorities to deliver an efficient SEND process.

The proposals include:

• A new national standardised system for SEND and AP, which sets out a consistent approach to meet the needs of learners throughout their education, health and care journey. Enabling the young person and their parents/carers to engage in decision making at every stage.
• The creation of local SEND Inclusion Partnerships bringing together education, health and social care.
• A standardised and digitised Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) template and process to minimise administrative burden, deliver a consistent assessment process and to make it easier and quicker to resolve disputes.

You can access the full consultation in a variety of formats on the Government’s website.