Education Secretary hopes SEND Review will be published by March 2022

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi made his first appearance in front of the Education Select Committee and faced questions from MPs. The first question from the chair, Robert Halfon MP, was around the SEND review. Mr Halfon stated that he is aware from parents in his constituency that the system is not fit for purpose and needs these reforms. The Education Secretary’s response was that the review needed to dovetail with the White paper around numeracy and literacy, as mainstream schools play a big role in the education of learners with SEND. When challenged on a date by the chair, he announced that he was “hoping to have it out in the first quarter of next year”. Whilst this is welcomed by the SEND sector, the government has already missed three of its own deadlines for releasing the review.

Other points that were discussed:

• The proposed new bill on a ‘triple lock’ of protections should the government make the decision to close all schools again. 
• The DfE will publish its evidence review on the efficacy of a longer school day by the end of the year.
• The challenge to the sector is to make all mainstream schools ‘SEN schools’.
• Details on a home education register would be provided in the government response to the Children not in school consultation by the end of the year.
• BTECs and T-levels and the availability of placements.