Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 May 2026
Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education relating to Support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, 13 May 2026
Summary
The Department for Education's Permanent Secretary informs the Public Accounts Committee of revised implementation dates for recommendations from its 2024 SEND report. Most recommendations due Spring/April 2026 have been implemented. Recommendation 7, requiring improved data and a fully costed SEND system plan, is being extended to Summer 2027 to allow consultation feedback and evidence-based sequencing with wider reforms.
Key findings
- Department has implemented multiple recommendations originally due in Spring and April 2026
- Recommendation 7 implementation delayed to Summer 2027 to incorporate consultation feedback on SEND Reform proposals
- Department published costed long-term SEND reform approach through consultation 'SEND Reform: Putting children and young people first' with policy modelling
- Further metrics and detail will be published when consultation responses are received and as reform measures are implemented
- Department states revised timelines reflect considered sequencing for effective reform, not reduced ambition
Tone
ProceduralTopics
special-educational-needspublic-financeeducation-policy
Key actors
Susan Acland-Hood, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Department for Education, Public Accounts Committee
Notable line
“The revised target implementation date of Summer 2027 reflects the point at which we expect these further refinements to be complete …”
Key Quotes
“Recommendation 7 asked the Department to improve its data and develop a fully costed plan for improving the SEND system, with clear actions, interdependencies and metrics.”
“I hope this letter provides assurance that the revised timelines reflect considered sequencing to support effective long term reform, rather than a reduction in ambition.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗