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Practical guidance on SEND operations, inclusion strategy, and the systems schools need to support pupils well.
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Browse all articlesA SEND handover is not a folder: the archive-dump problem
A SEND handover fails when the receiving teacher can find the file but not the current need, what works or what happens next. Use this practical UK test and checklist.
How we built a SEND document generator from real local authority examples
Local authority SEND formats vary, so a single generic template will never fit. Here is how we used SEND document examples from across England, plus synthetic test cases built with practising SENDCOs, to develop an evidence-grounded generation system.
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Product thinking, policy notes, and lessons from schools putting this into practice.
Alternative provision census and SEND: what mainstream schools should check now
The alternative provision census puts more attention on the information held about pupils educated outside school. Here is what mainstream schools should check in their SEND records before the next return.
Read articleHow to record pupil voice in a SEND support plan
Pupil voice should change what a school does, not sit as a decorative paragraph in a SEND file. This practical guide shows how to capture it and turn it into usable provision.
Read articleHow to handle a mid-year SEND admission without losing the thread
A mid-year admission can expose gaps in SEND records quickly. This practical checklist helps schools gather the right information, assign actions and give staff a usable starting point.
Read articleHow to build a SEND parent communication plan that does not depend on memory
A clear parent communication plan helps schools keep promises, record decisions and prevent small misunderstandings becoming larger SEND disputes.
Read articleSEN Support Plan review dates: the workflow that keeps plans current
A practical workflow for setting SEN Support Plan review dates, assigning owners, gathering evidence and keeping the current plan clear.
Read articleSEND action and decision logs: record what changed and who owns the next step
A SEND decision log gives schools a clear record of what was agreed, why it changed and what happens next. This practical guide explains what to record and how to make the process usable.
Read articleHow to record SEND provision changes so staff know what to do next
SEND support changes throughout the year, but the record often lags behind. This practical guide shows how to record what changed, why it changed, and what staff should do next.
Read articleHow to use school attendance data to spot SEND barriers early
Attendance percentages only help when they lead to a better conversation. Here is a simple routine for using attendance data to find SEND barriers before they become bigger problems.
Read articleWhat the new inclusion guidance means for SEND records in schools
The DfE's new inclusion push is not only a funding story. It is a reminder that SEND support only improves when the current record is easy to trust.
Read articleHow to run a weekly SEND triage meeting that actually gets things done
A weekly SEND triage meeting should do one job well: decide what matters now, who owns it, and when the next check happens.
Read articleWhat schools should do when a SEND subject access request lands
A SEND subject access request is a records problem as much as a legal one. The school needs the current version, the right redactions, and a clean trail to the deadline.
Read articleHow to create a SEND handover pack for class changes and staff absence
A good SEND handover pack gives the next adult the current picture fast. Keep it short, current, and tied to the live record.
Read articleHow to build a one-page SEND profile that staff will actually use
A one-page SEND profile only works if it is current, specific, and easy to trust. The point is to give staff one version of the truth.
Read articleSEND chronology versus support plan: what belongs in each record
Chronologies and support plans solve different problems. Keep them distinct, linked, and current so staff can see what happened and what to do next.
Read articleWhat schools must show when an EHCP is delayed or stalling
When an EHCP application has been waiting for months, schools still have legal duties to the child. The question is not whether to act but what to record while the process runs. Here is what current provision looks like when the plan is not yet in place.
Read articleHow to build a SEND risk register that staff actually use
A SEND risk register helps schools spot slippage early. The trick is to keep it short, current, and tied to real actions rather than another unused spreadsheet.
Read articleHow to build a year 11 SEND transition brief staff will actually use
A good transition brief is short, current, and easy to trust. Here is how to turn the live record into something staff can use on day one of the next placement.
Read articleInclusive Mainstream Fund: what schools need to publish by 31 December 2026
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund is a 2026 to 2027 grant with a 31 December 2026 inclusion strategy deadline. This guide explains what schools should record and publish.
Read articleHow to build a SEND intervention log that staff will actually use
A good SEND intervention log should make the next step obvious. Keep it short, current, and tied to impact, not just activity.
Read articleArea SEND inspections: what schools need ready and what they are responsible for
Area SEND inspections are about the local partnership, but schools still need current records, clear handover, and a fast way to show what support is in place.
Read articleSEND provision map: how to show the school-wide offer without losing pupil detail
A practical guide to building a SEND provision map that leaders and SENCOs can use for planning, funding and review without turning individual pupil records into a spreadsheet.
Read articleHow to build a SEND governor report pack that staff will actually use
A good governor pack should make SEND evidence easy to scan, easy to trust, and easy to update. Here is a structure that keeps it useful.
Read articleSEND governors and Ofsted in 2026: the five questions boards should ask
Ofsted's September 2026 toolkit gives SEND governors a sharper test: can the board see pupils' needs, current provision, review decisions and impact clearly enough to challenge leaders?
Read articleHow to standardise SEND data across a MAT
MAT leaders cannot compare SEND support properly if every school records the same things in a different way. Standard fields and one live record make the picture usable.
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