SEND review delayed until ‘early next year’, Gavin Williamson confirms
Fiona Simpson
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The government’s landmark review into provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will not be published until early next year, Gavin Williamson has said.
The Education Secretary was quizzed over delays in publishing the ongoing SEND review during a meeting of the Education Select Committee today (16 September).
Williamson said the report will now not be published until “the early part of next year”.
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He added that publication will take place “later than I would have liked” due to Department for Education resources being directed towards Covid-19 response.
He insisted that those working on the review are now going at “full tilt” to get the review out “as soon as possible”.
The review was announced in September over mounting concern over children with SEND facing a “postcode lottery” for support.
Chair of the committee Robert Halfon further highlighted issues raised in recent reports over a lack of support across the board for families of children with SEND including staff shortages, prompting Williamson to say these factors were “exactly the reason that when the report is published, we need to ensure its the right report”.
He also highlighted the need for further collaboration with the Department for Health and Social Care in addressing SEND issues.
Earlier this year parliament’s public accounts committee said the review must result in “concrete action” to address “significant failings”.
DfE faced further criticism during lockdown over its decision to relax legislation relating to children with SEND and education, health and care plans.
Following Williamson’s admission that the SEND review would be delayed until next year the DfE told CYP Now that upcoming reviews into children’s social care and unregulated accommodation would be published “as soon as practically possible”.