Schools and local authorities should face new independent inspections focused specifically on pupils with special educational needs, according to a new report published today.
These inspections would be carried out annually and would give schools one of four ratings: bronze, silver, gold or platinum.
The idea for a new inspection and resolution service has been developed by an organisation called Great Minds Together, which works to support families of children with SEND or social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).
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Its chief executive Emma Mander told Tes the group wanted to set up the new service as a positive way of supporting schools and councils to improve and find solutions for families of children with SEND.
The plan is for it to be run independently without state funding alongside the work of Ofsted and the Department for Education in monitoring SEND provision.
The Great Minds Together group is also proposing creating a new SEMH code of practice for schools and local authorities to follow.
Its new report follows a pilot project of an independent inspection and resolution service approach in primary and secondary schools in Greater Manchester which worked with 150 families.
Ms Mander, a former school governor, said: “This framework removes the ‘them and us’ divide between councils, schools, local authorities and parents and encourages all parties to work together more cohesively for better outcomes.
“The fall in the number of tribunals between parents of SEND and SEMH children and their local authorities during our year-long pilot scheme bears testament to that, as does the rate of pupil re-engagement with education.
“Local authority money was saved in the process, making it available for SEND and SEMH support services. We feel the inspection and resolution service represents a now or never solution to government, schools, families, children and council services.”
Great Minds Together has been in discussion about their plans with members of the Education Select Committee following the MPs’ damning report into SEND last year.
It found that a generation of children with SEND was not getting the support needed because of “a nightmare of bureaucracy, buck-passing and confusion”, a damning new report has warned.
The report also recommended that schools should face inspections focused on whether they are inclusive for pupils with special educational needs.
Commenting on the new plan for an inspection and resolution service, committee member and Labour MP Ian Mearns said: “There is a crisis in the provision of SEND and SEMH across our fractured education system.
“I have met with Emma and Meg of Great Minds Together on a number of occasions and have read the ideas and proposals contained within their manifesto, including the framework for an inspection and resolution service.
“I wholeheartedly support the principles which underpin their proposals. I have invited Emma and Meg to produce a policy paper for wider discussion, which will hopefully act as a catalyst for debate on this incredibly important issue.”
