Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from 6th–12th October, highlighting the experiences of thousands of children whose learning differences often go unseen or unsupported.
Earlier this year, chef and TV personality Jamie Oliver shared his personal journey with dyslexia through his high-profile campaign and Channel 4 documentary, Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution. However, Jamie’s campaign speaks to a much wider truth: our education system is failing too many children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Across the country, parents, teachers, and local authorities are grappling with issues now at crisis point.
Sophie Hearn, Education and Partnerships Adviser at 1decision, explores the scale and impact of the SEND crisis, how many children are falling through the cracks, and what the new SEND taskforce must deliver for our most vulnerable learners.
Understanding the SEND Crisis
The SEND system in England was designed to ensure that children with special educational needs or disabilities can access the same opportunities as their peers. This support is delivered through interventions in schools, additional funding, and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for those with complex needs.
The reality, however, looks very different. The number of children with EHCPs has more than doubled since 2014, demand for assessments is soaring, and the timeframes for support are often missed.
- Long delays: EHCP assessments frequently exceed the 20-week statutory limit.
- Inconsistency: A child’s access to support can depend entirely on where they live.
- Funding pressures: Local authorities face mounting deficits in their SEND budgets.
- Overstretched staff: Schools struggle to meet complex needs alongside broader classroom demands.
For families, the result is often a prolonged and stressful battle to secure the help their child is entitled to by law.
The Scale and Impact
The Department for Education’s latest figures show that around 1.7 million pupils in England, roughly one in five, or more alarmingly, six children in every classroom, are identified as having SEND. Of this total, over half a million have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Many more children, however, are still falling through the cracks. Increasing numbers are presenting with multiple and complex needs, requiring specialist support from educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and other professionals. Yet much like children and young people who are affected by mental health issues, these children often go undiagnosed and unsupported until their difficulties escalate.
The human cost is high. When support is delayed or denied:
- Children can fall further behind academically
- Behavioural challenges may escalate due to unmet needs
- Families experience significant stress and financial strain
The New Taskforce: A Chance for Systemic Change
In response to the growing crisis, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has launched an independent inclusion taskforce aimed at reforming the SEND system. Chaired by former ASCL General Secretary, Geoff Barton, the taskforce brings together experts from education, health, and local government to produce a “roadmap to reform” that addresses the urgent challenges in the current system.
Other prominent members include:
- Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive, the Confederation of School Trusts
- Margaret Mullholland, SEND specialist, ASCL, and advisor to the UK government
- Baroness Anne Longfield, Executive Chair and Founder, the Centre for Young Lives, and former Children’s Commissioner
- Sarah Clarke and Jo Harrison, parents and Co-Chairs of the National Network of Parent and Carer Forums
The taskforce is expected to release its recommendations imminently this Autumn, aligning with an anticipated government Schools White Paper.
In the interim, the Education Committee whose recent report Solving the SEND Crisis, calls for nothing less than a culture shift.
What SEND Reform Needs to Address
To fix the SEND system, reforms must address several challenges at once. Consistency across local authorities is vital to end the postcode lottery that currently dictates the level of support a child might receive. Alongside this, early intervention must become the norm, ensuring that needs are identified and addressed before they escalate into more complex issues.
Funding is another critical issue. High-needs budgets must finally reflect the reality of growing demand and the complexity of provision. At the same time, the workforce requires urgent investment. Schools cannot deliver effective SEND support without recruiting, training, and retaining skilled staff such as SENCOs and specialist therapists.
True reform must recognise parents and carers as equal partners in decision-making. Too often they are forced into battles with local authorities, when in fact their insights and advocacy are essential to achieving the best outcomes for their children.
“We will reform the system so children with special educational needs are at the heart of the education system. And there will always be a legal right to additional support for children and young people with special educational needs.”
An Opportunity for Real Change
The SEND system has been under pressure for years but the combination of public attention, a dedicated reform taskforce, and high-profile advocacy means there is now a rare window for meaningful change. The challenge will be turning awareness into action and ensuring that SEND reform delivers for every child, not just those whose parents or carers can fight hardest for it.
If the taskforce listens to families, learns from campaigns like Jamie Oliver’s, and harnesses the momentum of events like Dyslexia Awareness Week, it could lay the foundations for a fairer, more inclusive education system, and one that finally meets the educational needs of all its learners.
How Does 1decision Ensure Inclusivity?
At 1decision, we are proud to support this vision. Our resources are designed to be flexible and adaptable, ensuring that every child, regardless of learning style, can access engaging, inclusive PSHE and personal development education. As the conversation around SEND reform continues, we remain committed to working alongside schools and professionals to support every child.
Download our Taster Pack today, to review how our resources can enhance your school’s provision and empower every child to thrive.
