AoC responds to Education Select Committee report on SEND

Catherine Sezen, Director of Education Policy, Association of Colleges said: "We welcome today's education committee report on SEND. The report concludes that the system isn’t working for young people, their families or service providers. As the report recommends, SEND provision should be fully integrated into the fabric of education, adequately funded and resourced.

"Colleges support and deliver inclusive learning for young people and adults with a wide range of special educational needs, including those with Education, Health and Care Plans. They could do more with joined-up transition planning and a student-centred focus on curriculum and qualification reform.

"We agree that the Department for Education must introduce a dedicated, ring-fenced funding stream for post-16 SEND support. Current funding pressures are undermining the ability of colleges to deliver the high-quality, personalised support these learners deserve. Without targeted investment, we risk failing a generation of young people at a pivotal stage in their development.

‘’We also agree that the current English and maths condition of funding policy should be reviewed as a matter of urgency. We would like to see a system which ensures that more young people achieve a solid foundation on these crucial skills at both 16 and post 16.’’