The conversation around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the UK has reached a turning point. Headlines over the past week have made one thing clear: demand is increasing, support is stretched, and schools need better tools to deliver consistent, transparent provision. This blog explores the current SEND crisis, why recent policy recommendations matter, and how askelie and ELIE for Education can help schools respond with practical, digital solutions that drive inclusive education.
What’s happening in the news
Two major stories have reignited debate around SEND support.
First, the House of Commons Education Committee released its report Solving the SEND Crisis, calling for a culture shift in how mainstream schools support children with additional needs. Among its recommendations are:
- Mandatory teacher CPD in SEND for all staff
- Senior leadership accountability, with heads required to hold SEND qualifications
- Stronger evidence and tracking of interventions to reduce EHCP delays and improve outcomes
Second, a Parentkind and YouGov survey revealed that one in three parents has sought a special needs assessment for their child. Many face long waits, pay privately, or struggle with the stress of delayed Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Together, these findings underline a simple truth: the system is under strain, and families cannot wait for slow-moving SEND reforms to filter down.
Why this matters for schools now
Schools are on the front line of the SEND crisis. Teachers, SENCOs and senior leaders are being asked to:
- Spot concerns early and act consistently
- Manage assessments and interventions under time pressure
- Evidence every action for Ofsted, governors and local authorities
- Maintain transparent communication with parents who may be losing faith in the system
For many schools, the challenge is not intent but capacity. Paper files, spreadsheets and repeated data entry waste time and make accountability harder. Staff need digital support and SENCO tools that are practical, easy to use, and secure.
Immediate actions schools can take
While national reforms will take time, there are steps schools can take right now to improve SEND provision:
1. Map the current journey
Visualise the steps from first concern to plan review. Highlight where cases get stuck, where data is re-entered, and where families feel left in the dark.
2. Standardise triage criteria
Use simple, clear checklists to ensure every referral is assessed consistently. This reduces disputes and helps staff know what “good” looks like.
3. Track interventions and outcomes
Interventions should not just be logged but linked to measurable results. This makes reviews meaningful and ensures evidence is ready for audits.
4. Provide embedded CPD
Teachers need quick, relevant training that ties into their everyday work. Scenario-based micro-modules are more effective than one-off sessions.
5. Communicate predictably with families
Parents value updates even when progress is slow. Clear templates and scheduled communications reduce misunderstandings and stress.
How askelie supports schools
ELIE for Education is designed to help schools move from reactive firefighting to proactive, evidence-based SEND support.
Triage and case management
Teachers log concerns in one place. ELIE automatically routes cases, suggests interventions, and sets review dates. Families receive templated updates, saving staff from drafting lengthy emails.
Intervention library with measurable outcomes
Schools can create a bank of interventions tied to progress indicators. Reviews are automated, with dashboards showing impact at pupil, class, and cohort level.
Embedded CPD
ELIE delivers short, scenario-based modules where staff are working. Completion is tracked, giving leaders the evidence needed to meet new teacher CPD requirements.
Leadership visibility
Qualified SENCOs and senior leaders can view live dashboards showing case loads, bottlenecks, and overdue reviews. This makes resourcing decisions easier and supports accountability.
Secure, audit-ready records
All actions in ELIE are time-stamped. Evidence for governors, Ofsted, or local authorities can be exported instantly, reducing administrative stress.
Example in practice
Take a secondary school struggling with SEND triage. Teachers are unsure when to escalate, SENCOs are buried in paperwork, and parents complain about silence caused by EHCP delays.
By adopting ELIE for Education:
- Teachers use a standardised concern form
- Cases are automatically routed and assigned
- Interventions are selected from a built-in library
- Families receive automatic updates at each milestone
- Leadership sees a dashboard showing overdue reviews
Within one term, average time to intervention drops by 30%. SENCOs spend less time chasing updates and more time planning effective support. Parents report higher confidence in the school’s processes.
What good looks like next term
Schools adopting ELIE for Education can expect:
- A clear evidence trail for every case
- Teachers completing SEND CPD that is practical and relevant
- Families receiving regular, predictable updates
- SENCOs and leaders able to show progress across the whole school
- Reduced stress for staff and more timely interventions for pupils
- Progress towards inclusive education targets and compliance with emerging SEND reforms
Getting started
The best way forward is to begin small. Import current cases for a single year group or key stage. Use ELIE for six weeks to trial triage, intervention tracking, and automated communication. With quick wins visible, expand gradually until every SEND case is supported.
AskELIE provides configuration, training and migration support so schools can focus on what matters most: helping children learn.
Conclusion
The SEND crisis is not a headline, it is the reality schools and families face daily. Policy recommendations may take years to filter down, but schools need practical help today. By embedding triage, intervention tracking, SENCO tools, CPD and communication into one secure platform, ELIE for Education allows schools to deliver the culture shift that policymakers are demanding.
Less waiting. More learning. That is the goal.
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