Special Educational Needs – the work of the Michael Sieff Foundation

Providing effective educational and parenting support for children and young people with hidden disabilities in the UK.

The evidence from the Parliamentarians’ Inquiry demonstrated that young people with a range of hidden disabilities are over-represented in having poor educational and life outcomes, especially in relation to employment, mental health difficulties and offending.

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) in the UK
Action Plan 2019

The Michael Sieff Foundation has been considering some of the problems of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) field for nearly two years in accordance with terms of reference agreed by its Trustees in February 2017. These were to investigate the impact of the reforms in the Children and Families Act 2014, with particular reference to the introduction of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) to replace Statements of Special Educational Needs, and the detailed evidencing of educational, health and care needs required to get all three systems to provide effective educational, and where relevant health, social care and parenting support for children and young people with hidden disabilities.

We have been working with a range of professionals and interest groups, including the Inclusive Education Unit at University College, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Roehampton, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, the Council for Disabled Children, I CAN and Action Attainment.

See the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) in the UK page for the full Action Plan proposed.

Scoping Seminar on Education Health and Care Plans, 18 January 2018

The Trustees sponsored a multi-disciplinary meeting on 18 January 2018 to investigate the impact of the reforms in the Children and Families Act 2014, with particular reference to the introduction of Education, Health and Care Plans and the detailed evidencing of educational need to provide effective educational and parenting support for children and young people with hidden disabilities.

Details of the Scoping Seminar on Education Health and Care Plans held on 18 January 2018 at the Nuffield Foundation is published on the Scoping Seminar on Education Health and Care Page.

Our programme of work is currently in its formative stages. We would be interested to hear from stakeholders involved in disciplines that may inform our investigation. Please contact the Secretary of the Foundation, Richard White via email: richard@michaelsieff-foundation.org.uk in the first instance.

Commons Education Select Committee
Special educational needs and disabilities inquiry
April 2018

• A Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Inquiry was launched by the Commons Education Select Committee in April 2018. There are details of this on the House of Commons website.
• Further Information on the Scope of the Inquiry has also been published on the House of Commons website.

The Michael Sieff Foundation made the following Submission to the Inquiry.