Response to the Education Committee inquiry into the SEND Crisis

By Sarah Warren, Former EHCP Plan Writer and Caseworker

As a SEND caseworker with years of experience in the local government sector, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges of drafting Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plans. These plans are at the heart of providing tailored support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The SEND sector including school and Local Authority provision is in crisis, with statutory deadlines for EHCPs largely not being met across England and child ren with SEND missing out on the support they need. In response to this crisis, the Labour government has recently launched an inquiry focused on finding solutions to this crisis, which has been worsening over the last 15 years.

Having transitioned to working with Agilisys, I now have the opportunity to contribute to the development of an AI tool that is revolutionising the way SEND professionals create EHC Plans. The challenges faced by LAs, such as the increasing demand for services, the complexity of cases, and the need for improved support for children and young people with SEND are issues that our AI tool directly addresses. By automating the drafting of EHC Plans, we can ensure that caseworkers have more time to engage with children, families, and other professionals. This will allow for better, more personalised support and help clear the backlogs that have been a significant barrier to timely and effective SEND provision.

I strongly agree with the Government’s focus on improving the experience for children, young people, and families, and it’s clear that technology, particularly AI, has a critical role to play in realising this vision. The ethical considerations around the use of data and the need for transparency, are crucial. At Agilisys, we are committed to ensuring our AI solution is in line with the highest ethical standards, respects the privacy of children and families and operates with full accountability and transparency. We have worked closely with local authorities and SEND professionals to refine the tool and ensure that it aligns with the specific needs of SEND caseworkers.

Ultimately, this enquiry marks an exciting opportunity to transform SEND services, enable them to better meet the needs of Young people with SEND, meet statutory deadlines and uphold the law surrounding SEND. We at Agilisys are proud to be part of that transformation. By embracing AI, we can ensure that SEND professionals have the tools they need to provide high-quality, timely, and personalised support for every child and young person with SEND, empowering them to thrive.