The Educator Magazine U.K. May-August 2026 issue. - Magazine - Page 39
With decades of experience in SEND, Momenta Connect partners
with mainstream schools, families and local authorities to help
children with SEND receive specialist support without having to
leave their local area. Commenting on the White Paper, Emma
Sanderson, Director at Outcomes First Group said:
“The proposals contained within the White Paper signal a clear
recognition that our SEND system is in crisis. Whilst today’s
legislation outlines a welcome shift in approach, echoing calls
from specialists for greater inclusion and early intervention, there
is a real risk that without specialist provision playing a key role in
delivery, these ambitions will become another policy that’s
difficult to decipher, let alone implement.
“As leaders with national expertise in both mainstream and
specialist SEND provision, we’re hearing time and time again
from schools that they want to and are committed to, helping
more children with SEND thrive in mainstream settings. But they
can’t do it alone. Schools need a way to bridge the gap between
mainstream and specialist expertise and need access to specialist
support without pupils having to leave their local area.
“The move to a tiered SEND framework has the potential to
provide much-needed clarity. However, Tier 2 and Tier 3 support
will only succeed if schools have meaningful access to specialist
expertise. The proposed national ‘Experts at Hand’ service is a
welcome step, but implementation details and capacity planning
will be critical. The expectation that secondary schools develop
dedicated inclusion bases provides an opportunity to formalise
that bridge between mainstream and specialist provision.
Inclusion hubs should act as centres of expertise to bolster
whole-school inclusive practice, rather than becoming siloed
places.”
Following this period of consultation and prior to the White
Paper becoming legislation, schools will have to bridge the gap
between current practice and the proposed changes, while
maintaining current standards for pupils.
Momenta Connect will be hosting a series of free, drop-in
webinars following the publication of the White Paper to break
down key policy changes and share practical strategies to
support children with SEND in mainstream schools.
