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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.
Everything we have written
Product thinking, policy notes, and lessons from schools putting this into practice.
How 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 articleWhat the latest DfE attendance release means for SEND teams
The latest attendance release is a reminder that SEND support, absence follow-up, and parent contact only work when the record is current.
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 articleWhat the latest SEN statistics say about EHCPs and SEN support
The latest DfE release shows more than 1.8 million pupils in England with SEN. That is not just a headline, it is a record-keeping problem schools have to run properly.
Read articleHow to separate a SEND chronology from the support plan without losing the story
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 articleWhat the new year 11 education records mean for SEND transitions
The DfE says education records are now available for year 11 pupils. For SEND teams, that is a prompt to clean up handovers before the summer break.
Read articleHow to support SEND attendance without escalating conflict
SEND attendance usually improves faster when the school removes barriers, keeps one live record, and talks to families from a shared plan instead of a string of separate calls.
Read articleWhat the new SEND white paper and £4bn inclusion fund mean for schools
The new SEND white paper is more than a funding story. It signals a shift toward earlier support, more specialist help, and a bigger need for current records.
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 articleWhat Ofsted's new approach to SEND means for school leaders
Ofsted has shifted how it inspects SEND provision. This article breaks down what the new approach means, what evidence inspectors need, and what school leaders should do before the next inspection.
Read articleSEND reform consultation 2026: what schools should prepare for now
The DfE's 2026 SEND reform consultation points toward earlier support, shared accountability, and more local specialist provision. Here is what that means for schools, SENCOs, and records.
Read articleWhat schools need ready for an area SEND inspection
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 articleHow to build a SEND provision map that staff actually use
A SEND provision map is only useful if it stays current, shows who gets what support, and can be used by staff without opening a maze of spreadsheets.
Read articleWhat the updated area SEND inspections guidance means for schools
Area SEND inspections are running on a continuous cycle again. Schools do not control the inspection, but they do need current records, clear handover, and evidence that support is working.
Read articleHow to write a SEND supply brief that cover staff can use in two minutes
A good SEND supply brief is short, current, and practical. It should tell cover staff what matters, what to avoid, and who to contact without forcing them to read a full file.
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 articleWhat Ofsted expects SEND governors to know about evidence and impact
Governors do not need to inspect every SEND file, but they do need to know whether the school can show current evidence, consistent support, and real impact.
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.
Read articleWhat the new SEND rights package means for schools
The government's SEND rights plan points toward individual support plans, clearer evidence, and a much tighter record of what support is actually in place.
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