National key SEND Documents and Resources

National SEND Legislation and Guidance

The SEND Code of Practice

This Code of Practice gives statutory guidance for Local Authorities, educational settings and anyone else involved in providing services to children or young people with special educational needs or disabilities when working with children and young people up to age 25. The SEND Code of Practice can be viewed here

Every Child Achieving and Thriving (Also known as the SEND Reforms or SEND White Paper)

This document sets out the proposed reforms that the government want to make to the SEND system. 

You can read more about it here: Every Child Achieving And Thriving

There is an easy read version available here: Our Plan To Help Every Child Easy Read Version

Ofsted and CQC SEND Inspection

Ofsted and CQC jointly inspect local area partnerships to see how well they work together to improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They inspect education, health and care services for children with SEND in a local area, to make sure they are effective. This is called an area SEND inspection. The inspections are carried out in line with the area SEND Inspection framework and handbook.

Area SEND Inspection: information for parents and carers

This guide explains to parents and carers what happens when Ofsted and CQC inspect local services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The guide can be viewed here

An easy read guide can be viewed here

Area SEND Inspection: information for children and young people

This guide explains what happens when Ofsted and CQC inspect local services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and how you can get involved. The guide can be viewed here

An easy read guide can be viewed here

Area SEND Inspection: British Sign Language

This British Sign Language video explains what happens on our area SEND inspections. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) work together to inspect local services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is called an area SEND inspection. We want to make sure local services are meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25.

Information for parents and carers can be viewed here

Information for children and young people can be viewed here