1. Update on current SEN issues
André Imich
SEN and Disability Professional Adviser
Department for Education
June 2010

2. Nos at SA+ and with SSEN

3. Narrowing the Gap
1.7 million (21%) identified with SEN
% SEN achieving 5 GCSEs A*-C inc Eng and Maths has doubled between 2006 and 2009.
Gaps between the attainment of children with and without SEN range from 40 to 55 pps.
Breaking the Link between SEN and low attainment (March 2010)

4. Pupils with disabilities - School experiences
Disabled pupils are 7 times more likely than non-disabled pupils to be excluded
47% of primary and 42% of secondary persistent absentees have SEN
80% of disabled pupils claim to have been bullied at school
10% of disabled children have a clinically significant mental health problem
15% of disabled YP are not in education, employment or training (NEET) compared with 7% non-disabled

6. Why is the attainment of children with SEN lower than their peers?
Inconsistent approaches to identification
Gaps too often an ‘invisible issue’
Assumptions and low aspirations
Confidence and skills of teaching staff and other professionals
Low prior attainment at EYFS or Key Stages
Parental engagement
Poorer wellbeing and wider outcomes
Access to qualifications

7. Features of effective improvement approaches
High expectations for good progress
Assessment, tracking and early intervention
Engaging parents of children with SEN
Extended services and pupil wellbeing
Raising visibility and awareness through leadership
Targeted support in basics

8. Data developments Strengthening P Scale moderation
Publication of P scale data
Extending RAISEOnline to include data on below expected levels – including data for special schools

9. Focus on outcomes
“There needs to be a much clearer focus on both attainment and wider outcomes for disabled children and children with SEN at every level of the system: at school, LA and national level; for children at SA, SA+ and for children with a statement…… Parents and children themselves should be central to this work.”
Letter from Brian Lamb to the SoS (Dec 2008)

10. Improving parental confidence – Areas of focus
Outcomes, progress, attainment
Exclusion of children with SEN
Clarity about LA and school responsibility
The use of support assistants with pupils with SEN
Parent Partnership Services
Information for parents
Improve quality of statements
Improve parent and pupil participation
Monitoring and inspection processes
Training, training, training
Disability equality

11. Disability equality
Equality Act a statutory requirement for schools to provide auxiliary aids and services for disabled pupils, for example special equipment and large-print books, where reasonable
DfE to consult on issues arising during 2010, prior to implementation during 2011

12. The coalition programme for government – Key commitments for SEN/ vulnerable groups
The Government believes that we need to reform our school system to tackle educational inequality, which has widened in recent years, and to give greater powers to parents and pupils to choose a good school.
We will reform league tables so that schools are able to focus on, and demonstrate, the progress of children of all abilities.
We believe the most vulnerable children deserve the very highest quality of care. We will improve diagnostic assessment for schoolchildren, prevent the unnecessary closure of special schools, and remove the bias towards inclusion.
We will improve the quality of vocational education, including increasing flexibility for year olds.

13. The SEN Challenge - To ensure an improvement in outcomes for children with SEN
Understand the Need
Better outcomes for vulnerable groups, inc SEN
Unlock the Potential
Improve parental confidence
Workforce reform
Better use of data
Accountability
Quality support services
Enhanced quality of inclusive leadership

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