I think this is a good articulation of they key challenge - and one that was complete heresy in the DfE a few years ago. I do think we could be further on our way to addressing some of this than we acknowledge. The evidence base on SEMH and SLCN is really strong! There’s loads of what works level evidence on how you can improve communication and language skills, improving social and emotional regulation, improving mental health outcomes. If we started with these needs and provided funding and guidance to improve practice, we could make a transformative difference more quickly than we think.
What's interesting is that we both think the evidence base for some needs is strong, as in my experience do others, and yet we don't have a common understanding of what the evidence is across the sector. I'm sure some of this is just a lack of good dissemination, but I also think there is (a) an issue around evidence quality, (b) a paucity of debate and discussion from which consensus gets reached, and (c) a set of underlying disagreements that aren't well debated/understood.
I hope you're right (and happen to agree) that we can get there quickly on some things, and those feel like the right places to start. Just don't want to pretend it will all be easy!
Superb piece - chimes with IFS work: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/spending-special-educational-needs-england-something-has-change
I think this is a good articulation of they key challenge - and one that was complete heresy in the DfE a few years ago. I do think we could be further on our way to addressing some of this than we acknowledge. The evidence base on SEMH and SLCN is really strong! There’s loads of what works level evidence on how you can improve communication and language skills, improving social and emotional regulation, improving mental health outcomes. If we started with these needs and provided funding and guidance to improve practice, we could make a transformative difference more quickly than we think.
What's interesting is that we both think the evidence base for some needs is strong, as in my experience do others, and yet we don't have a common understanding of what the evidence is across the sector. I'm sure some of this is just a lack of good dissemination, but I also think there is (a) an issue around evidence quality, (b) a paucity of debate and discussion from which consensus gets reached, and (c) a set of underlying disagreements that aren't well debated/understood.
I hope you're right (and happen to agree) that we can get there quickly on some things, and those feel like the right places to start. Just don't want to pretend it will all be easy!