Read our research, commissioned by London Councils, on inclusion of young people with SEND in London’s schools. The report defines inclusion, outlines the picture across London, highlights the benefits of inclusion, and makes recommendations for stakeholders across the capital.
Read Mime’s research, commissioned by London Councils, on inclusion of young people with SEND in London’s schools. The report defines inclusion, outlines the picture across London, highlights the benefits of inclusion, and makes recommendations for stakeholders across the capital.
Across London, the cohort of school pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) grew by 21% in the five years from January 2019 to January 2024, up to more than 250,000 pupils. The number requiring Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has grown even more quickly, up by more than 50% in the same time period.
As this cohort has grown, the number of young people with SEND in school placements outside state-funded mainstream schools has also grown rapidly. This risks isolating young people with SEND from their peers and local communities, and has stretched local authority budgets and school resources. That, in turn, has driven longer waiting lists across the system, including for assessment and support. There is now widespread concern about how consistent inclusive practice is across the capital, and cross-party political consensus on the need for action.
London Councils commissioned Mime to carry out research into inclusion of young people with SEND in London’s schools. The aims were to:
- Outline a definition of inclusion
- Highlight the benefits of inclusion
- Better understand the picture of inclusion across London
- Make recommendations for stakeholders across the system to improve inclusion in the capital.
We took a mixed-methods approach to this research, collecting both qualitative and quantitative evidence. As well as school, local authority and government stakeholders, it was essential to ensure the voices of young people with SEND and their families were amplified in our research, so we ran several focus groups and surveys with parents and carers, as well as carrying out school visits. Additionally, we explored data from the National Pupil Database (NPD).
We concluded our report with recommendations around workforce development, funding, the accountability system, and strengthening partnership working across London. Encouragingly, we have already seen a positive media and political response, including the BBC article and the London Standard piece which both focus on our funding and workforce recommendations. We also joined the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London’s discussion in parliament on this work, where there was clear political buy-in for improving inclusion across the capital (you can read the minutes of the APPG meeting here).
Read the full report here.
This research has demonstrated that families, schools and local authorities are all willing partners in this mission. We can create change in London and give our children the best possible start in life by working together, alongside the national government and other education partners.
Councillor Ian Edwards – Executive member for children and young people
To ensure good inclusion there needs to be flexibility to meet individual needs along with an excellent and broad universal offer. This will recognise different cultures and promote early and accurate identification.
Rosalind Luff – National Network of Parent Carer Forums, London Region
Click here to download the Summary Infographic
Get in touch to find out more about this research and our wider SEND and inclusion work
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