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UK's SEN reform could be a bureaucratic nightmare
So here's how we can put families first
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Wednesday 12th November 2025 |
The planned reform for special educational needs (SEN) in England has been delayed until 2026, offering an opportunity to refine the proposals.
The author of The Conversation's article about it, Paty Paliokosta, supports the UK government's stated aim of closer family involvement but criticises the plan to set "clear expectations for schools".
She argues this approach risks becoming a bureaucratic, transactional checklist rather than a genuine partnership.
Paliokosta advocates for a cultural shift towards effective partnerships based on respect and compassion, treating parents as experts on their own children.
This requires improved teacher training that promotes inclusion as a shared responsibility, not just accountability.
According to the article, there's also a need for better coordination between education, health, and care services to avoid fragmented support.
Without this authentic engagement, she warns, the reform risks becoming tokenistic and failing to rebuild families' eroded trust in the system.
Source: The Conversation (UK)
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