From Department for Education and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
£740 million allocated for 10,000 new places for pupils with SEND – New SEND places to create more inclusive classrooms in mainstream schools, delivering on Plan for Change to break down barriers to opportunity. (27 March 2025, please click link for full speech)
‘’…Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council had a shortage of specialist classrooms in local mainstream schools for pupils with SEND, forcing them to attend schools far from home for the right support.
After a 10-year expansion strategy, almost half of all schools in the area have resourced provision which has improved outcomes for young people and kept them educated locally with their peers and in their communities.
Recent analysis suggests that at least 15,000 more children and young people could have their needs met in such specialist provision in mainstream schools in an improved SEND system.’’
Marie Ziane, Headteacher at Becontree Primary School, Dagenham, said:
‘’At Becontree Primary School, all of our work stems from a shared belief and understanding that all children have learning, well-being and safeguarding needs.’’
Capital funding, alongside support from the Local Authority, has been an essential part of realising our school’s vision for truly inclusive practice.
The modification and creative use of existing spaces has had a significant impact on the learning, engagement and integration of children with Autism who attend our Additional Resource Provision, as well as having a huge impact on the learning and understanding of all members of our school community.’’
‘’The announcement comes as new data shows the urgent need to reform the SEND system, to save families from a gap in support potentially stretching to tens of thousands of places.’’
Speech
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, speech at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) conference (14 March 2025, please click link for full speech)
‘’…Children and young people with SEND – along with disadvantaged children – have the most to gain from high and rising standards. And a classroom that caters to all is a strength. Children thinking in different ways is a gift. It’s time we recognised that. I’ve been told this is too hard, that it can’t be done.
Of course it’s not easy, but it is possible. There are schools and trusts doing it already. I’ve talked to parents, and they tell me how important this is too.
One father told me about his daughter at Becontree Primary School in Dagenham, which has a SEND unit for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. His daughter moving into a mainstream school gave him faith that she will be able to achieve as an adult, get a job, be an active citizen.
It can be done.’’
Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Martyn Oliver, spoke at the 2025 SEND and Inclusion Conference: getting it right for everyone (12 March 2025, please click link for full speech)
‘’If you get it right for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, you get it right for everyone.’’
Ofsted is proposing the introduction of a new evaluation specifically on inclusion. They seek to understand how education provider leaders foster a culture where every child feels welcomes, safe, and valued. They are going to do everything they can to recognise when education providers are doing everything they can for every child and learner, including disadvantaged children, vulnerable children, children with SEND. Ofsted is consulting parents, carers, professionals and learners now. It’s open until 28th April.