Heather Sandy, Chair of the ADCS Inclusive Education Policy Network, said: 

“ADCS welcomes today’s announcement from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that £4 million will be invested to develop tools for earlier identification of SEND. 

“While early identification and timely intervention are crucial, this investment must be accompanied by broader, long-term reforms: strengthening mainstream provision, supporting the workforce, ensuring high-quality specialist settings, and embedding a nationally defined, evidence-based and sustainably funded framework. 

“We have long stressed that the SEND system is under significant and growing strain, and despite unaffordable levels of local authority spending, outcomes for children and young people with SEND are still not where they should be. Demand continues to rise, needs are becoming more complex, and capacity across schools and local authorities is increasingly stretched. 

“ADCS stands ready to work across governmental departments to ensure this research translates into practical, evidence-informed tools that genuinely improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.” 

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