Inspectors find inclusion for SEND children is lacking

Inclusive teaching for children in Jersey with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND) is lacking, independent inspectors have found.

A team of four reviewers from the UK spent months analysing inclusion in Jersey's education system.

The team - all His Majesty's Inspectors in England with extensive SEND expertise - visited 20 government-run schools and considered 276 parent surveys.

It has concluded 'current leadership, organisation, systems, strategies, oversight and accountability arrangements in relation to inclusive education in Jersey are not sufficiently effective'.

The report identifies:

• A significant number of parents concerned about the quality of SEND provision
• A lack of clear leadership and management
• Extensive delays and difficulties in identifying children's needs
• Schools feeling they receive minimal support from CYPES for SEND
• A lack of integration between social care and education
• Resources over-stretched in some areas, leading to  'a sense of crisis management'
• Acknowledged weaknesses in the Record of Needs system and an inconsistent match of funding to needs, with schools increasingly applying for RoNs
• A lack of coherent and coordinated strategy and oversight to develop special schools and Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARPS) in mainstream schools
• Insufficient levels of staff training and support to deliver inclusive education
• Staff and facilities not equipped to meet children and young people's needs well
• Schools reporting feeling isolated/uninvolved in decision-making processes
• Inconsistent communication between schools and parents, with some families reporting feeling marginalised
• Parents often resorting to private assessments, which schools may then dispute or ignore
• An excessive amount of time spent responding to complaints, impacting the central CYPES team's ability to support and guide schools

Whilst there are 'positive intentions' and 'pockets of good practice', the review found 'too few disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils have had their full range of needs met'.

Two thirds of school leaders who expressed a view to the inspectors said they do not believe that pupils with SEND achieve as well as they could.

Whilst many schools were praised for their support, several parents reported concerns about the time taken to identify their child's needs, disagreements about those needs, or a perceived lack of support or expertise and a failure to adapt teaching methods.

"A significant minority of parents reported feeling that the mainstream education system is outdated and often unwelcoming for children with SEND. Some reported their children were moved from mainstream schools if they 'don't fit in'. 

A report published in 2021, the nasen Review by the National Association for Special Education Needs, made 50 recommendations for improving inclusion in Jersey's education system.

This latest study has found those recommendations have 'not yet been responded to effectively', though it acknowledges that the scope of them 'has felt overwhelming'.

It has suggested a different approach to tackling what needs to be done.

• Schools take a more central role in the design and implementation of new strategies and systems to meet the needs of all pupils more effectively.
• Urgent collaboration to draw up short-term and medium term strategic plans
• An agreed protocol for admission to specialist provision, including assessment of pupils' needs, risk assessments and evaluation of resources.
• Better ongoing analysis of current expertise in SEND, more effective professional development and career pathway planning such as 'advanced skills teachers within the schools system
• An ongoing programme of internal and external monitoring including visits by experts to support and challenge progress.
• A clear time-limited system for complaints and appeals

The review was commissioned by the Education Minister and the Interim Chief Officer of CYPES.

Deputy Rob Ward says the government fully accepts the findings and has begun implementing several of the recommendations already.

“This review is a turning point. It gives us a clear roadmap for improvement while recognising the strengths and dedication of our schools. Inclusion is a shared responsibility, and we are committed to building a truly inclusive education system for Jersey.”

The Minister is due to make a statement to the States about the SEND Review today.

Deputy Ward has written to every parent with a children in a government-run school.  The correspondence was sent out by schools earlier.

In it, he accepts the government 'must do better':

The minister has also written to children: