Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure any revised SEND Code of Practice explicitly mandates the publication of school information on SEND in plain English.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has not made a specific assessment of the merits of commissioning research into the readability of information on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) published by schools. However, responses to our consultation have highlighted the importance of clearer, more accessible and transparent information for children, young people and their families.

​As part of our legislative reforms, we propose requiring schools to prepare and publish an Inclusion Strategy which will replace SEN Information Reports. This will strengthen accountability and transparency, and help parents better understand a setting’s offer of inclusive practice and support designed to meet a range of needs.

​The revised SEND code of practice will set out how schools should ensure that their Inclusion Strategy is accessible to children, young people and families. This will include using clear and accessible language, explaining technical terms and providing information in alternative formats where necessary.