‘This is not the answer for SEND’ – expert response to government White Paper
New research and report questions digital, pre-determined approach in “potentially traumatic” proposed government reforms
A new report questions the use of automated tiered systems in the government’s proposed SEND education reforms as well as its focus on mainstream achievement over individual mental health.
Over 70% of respondents in the SENsational Tutors research were concerned about the new white paper’s focus on mainstream school as the target setting, with almost half asserting that mental health should be the priority, rather than academic achievement.
Every Child Achieving and Thriving is the Department for Education’s white paper that lays out new approaches to SEN education, with a series of proposed changes to the current child-led approach that have been met with queries.
SENsational Tutors carried out quantitative and qualitative research into opinions around the government’s proposed white paper and found resounding concerns around the planned approach of using digital tools and predetermined groupings, as well its “lack of regard” for wider educational settings, including homeschooling, EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School)/ EOTIC (Education Otherwise Than At College) and alternative provision.
“Our own data shows that the main issue in SEN is a lack of faith in the education system, and a need for a focus on confidence, mental health and autonomy/ child led learning,” says SENsational Tutors founder Joanna Gibbs.
“We are seeing a clear rise in a need for holistic support alongside academic provision for young people with SEN, including confidence-building, engagement, communication and executive function/study skills learning support,” says Joanna. “Requests for mental-health support requests have risen 80% in the last 12 months. Without meeting these underlying needs, young people are more likely to find accessing the academic areas more challenging. The proposed data-driven approach focuses on academic outcomes and pushes children into predetermined support packages and educational settings, and this could lead to potentially traumatic consequences, with young people being set up to fail.”
The number one reason parents, carers and teachers get in touch with the award-winning provider is for support in engagement, building relationships and trust – and this reason is rising 43% y/o/y – along with requests for support with executive functioning skills and social communication.
Overall enquiries for SENsational Tutors are increasing 63% year on year, with the largest increase in queries relating to PDA (+173% ) and Autism (163%), both of which need flexibility and autonomy. With knowledge of the diversity within SEND and their own concerns over parts of the government white paper, the team held a series of panel discussions, involving parents and professionals, and carried out online research over two weeks in March and April, and found genuine concerns about the plan’s focus on mainstream settings, rather than with children themselves. Participants in the research also raised scepticism about whether the reformscan realistically be delivered, when considering the reality of busy classrooms, staffing levels and funding. SENCOs and teachers have been described as operating well beyond sustainable capacity and participants in the panels raised concerns that the reforms will make this worse, adding administrative demand without improved capacity, relying further on AI and pulling experienced practitioners away from the children they came into the profession to support on a personal level.
“We need a more holistic approach that seeks to provide the best educational support in any setting. The system should recognise that meaningful learning can only happen when the emotional wellbeing, physical needs, and sensory experiences of the whole child are fully understood and supported,” concludes Joanna. The proposals seem to do the opposite and categorise young people into defined tiers, seemingly in order to ‘slot them in’ to mainstream education more quickly. This is not progress.”
SENsational Tutors provides specialist tutors all over the UK, supporting young people with a range of needs and providing a partnership approach with parents and families, while working closely with schools, colleges and local authorities. The company has hundreds of specialist teachers who have supported thousands of young people with varying and diverse needs.
The company has submitted its report to the Department for Education as part of the government’s national consultation process, which closes on 18th May. It can be read in full here.
https://www.sensationaltutors.co.uk/send-the-truth-research/
https://www.sensationaltutors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SEND_White_Paper_Report.pdf
