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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.
How to support pupils with medical conditions at school without losing the record
Medical conditions become much easier to manage when the school keeps one current plan, one medicines log, and one clear handover process.
Read articleWhat the new SEND reform consultation means for SENCOs and school records
The new SEND reform consultation points towards a more consistent, more visible system. For schools, the immediate job is to tighten ordinary provision, current records, and the evidence trail.
Read articleWhat effective adaptive teaching for SEND looks like in a mainstream classroom
Adaptive teaching works when it is specific, visible, and built into ordinary classroom practice, not reserved for a few pupils or a few special interventions.
Read articleHow to set up a live SEND tracker for reviews, interventions and follow-ups
A live SEND tracker shows what is due, who owns it, and whether it has been done. That stops reviews, interventions, and follow-ups disappearing between meetings.
Read articleHow to build a SEND evidence pack for annual reviews, complaints and Ofsted
A SEND evidence pack keeps the current record, the next step, and the reason for decisions in one place. That makes annual reviews, complaints, and inspection conversations easier to handle.
Read articleHow to build a SEND parent communication log staff will actually use
Parent communication goes wrong when it lives in inboxes, memory, and old meeting notes. A live log keeps the school, family, and next step in one place.
Read articleWhat the new inclusion strategy funding means for mainstream schools
The DfE's inclusive mainstream fund is not just another pot of money. It changes how mainstream schools plan support, show inclusive practice, and prove what is working.
Read articleHow to write a SEND inclusion strategy that staff will actually use
A useful SEND inclusion strategy is short enough for leaders to use, specific enough for staff to act on, and visible enough for Ofsted and parents to understand.
Read articleHow to keep a SEND action log that staff will actually use
A good action log keeps owners, deadlines, and next steps in one place so SEND support does not drift between meetings.
Read articleHow to build a one-page SEND reasonable adjustments summary
A one-page summary can help class teachers, cover staff, and trip leaders see what matters fast. Here is what to include, what to leave out, and how to keep it current.
Read articleWhy SEND reasonable adjustments need a current record
Reasonable adjustments only work when staff can see them. This article explains why schools need one current record, how UK guidance points that way, and what to keep in it.
Read articleSEND complaints: what schools should keep when a complaint lands
A SEND complaint is easier to handle when the record is clear. Here is what schools should keep, what to update, and how to avoid a reconstruction exercise.
Read articleHow to build a SEND chronology that staff will actually use
A short SEND chronology helps staff see what happened, what changed, and what happens next. Here is how to keep it useful instead of turning it into another forgotten file.
Read articleHow long should schools keep SEND records? A practical UK retention guide
SEND records should not be kept forever, but they should not be deleted on instinct either. Here is the balanced way to manage retention in a UK school.
Read articleCan Your Team Find the Current SEND Record in Under Two Minutes? A SEND Record Audit for Schools
Can your team find the current SEND record in under two minutes? This practical audit helps SENCOs find missing plans, stale reviews, and duplicate files.
Read articleHow schools stop SEND knowledge disappearing when staff change
When a SENCO leaves, a key teacher moves on, or support staff change roles, SEND knowledge can vanish fast. Here is how schools keep one current record that survives staff turnover.
Read articleEHCP transitions: how schools can prevent stalls between SEN Support and post-16 provision
Schools lose momentum at EHCP transition points. This article explains where processes stall, why they stall, and what SENCOs can do to keep them moving.
Read articleHow to brief supply teachers on SEND support quickly
A practical framework for giving supply staff the right SEND information quickly without creating more paperwork.
Read articleCan AI help SENCOs without creating UK GDPR problems?
AI can reduce some SENCO admin, but only when schools control the data, use an approved tool, and keep professional judgement and review with people.
Read articleEHCP annual review checklist: what SENCOs should gather, discuss and record
An EHCP annual review is a process, not just a meeting. This practical checklist helps SENCOs gather evidence, involve the pupil and family, and record clear next steps.
How to evidence SEN support in a UK school: an Assess, Plan, Do, Review guide
A practical guide to evidencing SEN support through the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle, without turning every intervention into another paperwork exercise.
What a MAT-wide SEND dataset should include
A practical guide to the minimum SEND data a trust should standardise across schools.
Parent communication in SEN: building trust without more admin
How schools can improve SEN communication with families without creating another layer of paperwork.
SEN support plans teachers can actually use: what to include and review
A SEN support plan should help staff act quickly, not become another document nobody opens. Here is what to include, how to write it clearly, and how to keep it current.
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