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SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

OP posts:
Ilka1985 · 19/02/2026 16:15

It could all be so different without costing any money at all. I went to school in Germany. It's not sll perfect there but soo much better for a neurodivergent child like me. No uniform. No rules about hairs, piercings, tatoos, gendered clothing styles etc. No lunch in school. No detention. No behaviour point systems. No SATs. No GCSEs. School ends at 12noon in primary school, at 1pm in secondary. Choice between academic and vocational secondaries. No university fees.

Toomanyminifigs · 19/02/2026 16:09

I wonder if one reason they're looking at focusing on primary to secondary transfer first is to remove the right to request a school in section I. I think they're going to argue that all mainstream schools will be able to meet need for the vast majority of students (ie those who will no longer qualify for an EHCP under the new system). The idea being that all secondaries will have a 'resourced provision' so EHCPs will no longer be needed. I'm not sure where all the staff are going to come from for these resourced provisions or what incentives there will be for schools to open them or what measures are going to be in place to ensure they don't end up as a 'dumping ground'. I guess we'll need to see the details.

My DS is in a resourced provision and it's so difficult for his school to get and retain staff as it is.

I read this morning that 19% of EHCPs are issued to DC in Upper KS2. I think there may be a feeling that it's parents trying to 'game' the system so their DC can attend a specific secondary school.

Hopefully organisations like Ipsea, SOS!SEN and Special Needs Jungle will help to challenge whatever is being cooked up.

Original poster
IdentityCris · 19/02/2026 14:28

This seems to be based in so many misconceptions, too. On the radio this morning they were talking about no longer have an automatic transfer of EHCPs from primary to secondary schools. We don't have automatic transfer now, the whole point is that that is one of the things to be decided at annual review meetings. How can they make big decisions about the law and policy when they don't understand the present system?

OP posts:
Original poster
IdentityCris · 19/02/2026 14:26

BoysRule · 19/02/2026 13:12

I’m very concerned as a SENCO the amount of additional admin this puts on us. We don’t have capacity as it is. I’m working all of half term. They can’t put the additional workload on us without funding for additional staff. I’m aiming to get out by 2029, if I don’t have a breakdown before that.

That's one thing that concerns me a lot. For all that they talk about putting more funding into schools, how realistic is that? No government has raised the £6K SEN delegated funding figure in the last 12 years - why should we believe that funding for a new system will be adequate? If they were so convinced that mainstream plus more funding is the answer, why change the law? Why not put the extra funding and training into place anyway - if they're right, children with SEND will start doing to well in mainstream education that the number of EHCPs will fall automatically.

I'm seriously concerned also that the hefty emphasis on provision in mainstream schools will leave children who cannot cope in any school high and dry, as LAs won't have the money to cover EOTAS any more.

OP posts:
Madthings · 19/02/2026 13:55

BoysRule · 19/02/2026 13:12

I’m very concerned as a SENCO the amount of additional admin this puts on us. We don’t have capacity as it is. I’m working all of half term. They can’t put the additional workload on us without funding for additional staff. I’m aiming to get out by 2029, if I don’t have a breakdown before that.

Yes I think they are going to be throwing mainstream schools under a bus. I work in complex needs school. Well currently on unpaid parental leave due to the LA acting illegally and making me supervise my childs eotis provision...

But them saying the £6,000 funding is going. Needs will just be supported in msinsteam.. because that is working so well currently.. especially with academies and lack of accountability there.

Unless there is decent funding increase on staffing and also investment in buildings and facilities its all a mute point.

I left mainstream because it was awful seeing children being failed because there just were not the staff, funding, resources to support appropriately. For my own well being i couldn't work in that environment.

BoysRule · 19/02/2026 13:12

I’m very concerned as a SENCO the amount of additional admin this puts on us. We don’t have capacity as it is. I’m working all of half term. They can’t put the additional workload on us without funding for additional staff. I’m aiming to get out by 2029, if I don’t have a breakdown before that.

Lizziewest88 · 19/02/2026 12:52

I’m very concerned. I will email my MP not that he cares or listens!

Madthings · 19/02/2026 12:13

Nope but it may not come to force. And it there will have to be changes to kegal checks etc.

My child will be impacted by this. Currently LA have offered EOTIS with ehcp and tribunal next month. But its been a nightmare.

He would be coming up to yr 10 in 2029/30 so....

I will as ever email my mp, challenge where I can etc.

Currently also dealing with trying to support under section 17 child in need etc too. Its all exhausting, our systems are not fit for purpose.