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Special Educational Needs

Asked by Dr Roz SavageLiberal DemocratDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 25311

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of statutory guidance on record-keeping by local authority SEND services; and whether she plans to require local authorities to maintain written records of significant conversations, meetings and decisions relating to Education, Health and Care Plans.

Answered by Department for Education

The department has consulted on proposals to reform the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system and will confirm our intentions in due course. The reforms will include consultation on a revision of the relevant statutory guidance, the SEND Code of Practice.

Keeping accurate and proportionate records, including of decisions and why they were taken, is a principle of good administrative practice and something we expect of all local authorities in relation to education, health and care plans.

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