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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 articlesHow 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.
How Reddit Helped Shape MeritDocs' Product Testing
How public practitioner discussions helped MeritDocs test whether SEND software could reduce repeated admin without replacing SENCO judgement.
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Product thinking, policy notes, and lessons from schools putting this into practice.
What a structured pupil needs profile can do that a folder of PDFs cannot
SEND evidence often exists, but not in a form staff can reuse safely. A structured pupil needs profile keeps voice, source and current needs visible without flattening everything into one summary.
Read articleAI for SEND documents: 8 checks before staff use it
Generic AI can turn a prompt into a plausible plan in seconds. That does not make the plan safe, accurate or useful. These eight checks help SENCOs choose a more controlled approach.
Read articlePost-16 SEND study programmes 2026 to 2027: the handover schools need to get right
Updated DfE guidance puts individual needs, employment preparation and the right support at the centre of post-16 study programmes. Schools can make that work by sending a current, usable handover rather than a folder of history.
Read articleInclusive early years fund 2026 to 2027: what providers need to do now
The £47 million inclusive early years fund is being paid to providers upfront. Here is what early years settings and school nurseries should check, plan and record before 31 March 2027.
Read articleWhy unmapped content matters when schools import SEND documents
A clean import can still be a bad import if important evidence disappears. Here is how schools should review mapped, uncertain and unmapped content when moving SEND records out of Word files and PDFs.
Read articleMeritDocs appointed supplier on the Government Commercial Agency's Low Value Purchase System
MeritDocs Ltd is an appointed supplier on the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) Low Value Purchase System (LVPS), Agreement RM6237. Here is what that route means for public-sector buyers.
Read articleAlternative 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 articleNew SEND inclusion guidance: what schools should do with their support spaces
The Department for Education's new SEND inclusion guidance puts more attention on how schools design dedicated support spaces. Here is what leaders should check now.
Read articleEducation for All Bill and SEND: what school leaders should prepare now
The proposed Education for All Bill could change how support, accountability and inclusion work around SEND. Schools can prepare now without trying to predict the final law.
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 articleWhat the September 2026 Ofsted updates mean for SEND leaders
Ofsted has updated its education inspection materials for inspections from September 2026. Here is what SEND leaders should check before the new inspection year begins.
Read articleHigh needs funding 2026 to 2027: what mainstream schools should check now
The DfE's 2026 to 2027 high needs funding guidance has practical consequences for mainstream schools. Here is what leaders and SENCOs should check before the new school year.
Read articleHow to build a September SEND baseline before pupils return
A September SEND baseline gives staff a shared starting point. This practical guide shows what to check, what to record and how to keep it usable after the first week.
Read articleHow to build a SEND decision log that survives staff changes
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 articleWhy the 2026 SEND person-level survey matters for schools
The 2026 SEND person-level survey gives the Department for Education a more detailed view of children and young people receiving SEND support. Here is what school leaders and SENCOs should understand about the data behind their records.
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 articleWhat upfront SEND funding could mean for mainstream schools in 2027 to 2028
New DfE guidance asks local authorities to apply to pass more high needs funding directly to mainstream schools. Here is what SENCOs and school leaders should prepare for now.
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 stop old SEND plans being reused in busy schools
If staff can find an old plan faster than the current one, the school has a version-control problem. Here is a simple way to keep one live SEND record and stop outdated documents circulating.
Read articleWhat \"Every child achieving and thriving\" means for SEND records in schools
The new schools white paper is not just a policy headline. It points towards a more visible SEND system, which means schools need current records, clear ownership, and less reliance on memory.
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