At Toucan Education, whether through our Alternative Provision or our Flexi School, everything begins with understanding the child.
We take time to understand their needs.
We recognise their strengths.
We explore their abilities.
We respect their differences.
For many of the children we support, mainstream education has felt overwhelming, inaccessible or simply not the right fit at that moment in their journey. Through tailored provision and smaller, nurturing environments, we aim to rebuild hope, confidence and self esteem.
The New Schools White Paper and Consultation
Yesterday saw the publication of the Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, alongside the consultation document SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First.
Along with these documents came a significant number of supporting papers and guidance. There is a great deal to read and absorb, and we will continue to work through them carefully with our team and with families.
There is, however, a noticeable shift in tone.
There is a move away from trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
There is recognition that a one size fits all system does not work for every child.
There is language around empathy, inclusion, accessibility and equity.
That is encouraging.
The Five Reform Principles
At the heart of the reform programme are five clear principles.
1. Early
Children and families should receive support as soon as possible, with a quick response when needs change.
The aim is to break the cycle of unmet needs escalating into crisis. Instead of waiting for things to get worse, the focus is on intervening earlier in a child’s life when support can have the greatest impact.
For families who have experienced long waits or battles for help, this principle matters.
2. Local
Children and young people with SEND should be able to attend education settings close to home, learning alongside their peers wherever possible.
Specialist settings will still play a vital role, particularly for those with the most complex needs. However, the ambition is that children should not have to travel long distances away from their communities unless absolutely necessary.
Belonging locally is powerful.
3. Fair
Every education setting should be properly resourced and able to meet common and predictable needs without parents having to fight for support.
Where specialist provision is required, whether in mainstream, specialist or Alternative Provision settings, it should be available with clear legal safeguards in place.
This principle speaks directly to the experiences of many parents who have felt they had to battle for what their child needs.
4. Effective
Reforms should be rooted in evidence. Education settings should know where to find effective practice that leads to strong, long term outcomes for children and young people.
Good intentions are important. Evidence informed practice is essential.
5. Shared
Education, health and care services should work in partnership with one another.
This includes Best Start Family Hubs, local government, families, teachers, educators, experts, the voluntary sector and representative bodies.
Most importantly, the voices of children should be at the heart of decision making.
This principle recognises that no single organisation can do this alone.
Encouraging Intent, Important Questions
There is real positivity within these principles.
The emphasis on earlier intervention.
The ambition to reduce conflict.
The recognition that inclusion and high standards should sit together.
At Toucan Education, inclusion is not a policy statement. It is our daily practice.
We see children who have felt misunderstood.
We see families who have felt unheard.
We see young people whose confidence has been eroded by systems that were not flexible enough to meet their needs.
The principles are encouraging. The intent is clear.
However, detail and implementation will matter.
How will early intervention be funded consistently across the country?
How will local capacity be built?
How will Alternative Provision and Flexi models be recognised within this new landscape?
How will reforms genuinely reduce the pressure on families rather than reshaping it?
These are the conversations we now need to have.
Our Commitment
There is a significant amount of information to work through, and we will continue to read, reflect and engage.
We will discuss this with our team.
We will invite thoughts from parents.
We will consider what it means for children in mainstream settings and those who need something different.
There is optimism.
There is direction.
There is intent.
But there are also important details still to understand.
As always, our focus remains unchanged:
Understanding the child.
Building confidence.
Restoring hope.
Creating environments where children can thrive.
To find out more about how we support children and young people with SEND visit toucaneducation.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. To contact us directly please email hello@toucaneducation.com