SEND SIG Meeting- 3/22/2026

 

The Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA) response to the Department for Education’s (DfE) consultation, "SEND reform: putting children and young people first," is suggested to focus on how assessment practice can operationalize the government's vision of an inclusive, fair education system. With the consultation closing on 18 May 2026, the CIEA can position itself as the primary advocate for high-quality assessment literacy within these systemic reforms.

The following framework  suggested on my behalf outline the CIEA’s strategic response:

1. Assessment for Inclusion and the "Invisible Cohort"

• The Issue: Current assessment models often rely on age-related expectations that do not effectively capture the progress of many children with SEND, leaving them "invisible" in educational planning.

• The CIEA Response: Advocate for a system that values and measures progress from an individual’s unique starting point rather than solely against standardized age benchmarks.

• Assessment Goal: Assessment practice must enable the identification of specific needs so that pupils get the provision they need to thrive in both mainstream and specialist settings.

2. Workforce Assessment Literacy and "Experts at Hand"

• The Opportunity: The government has committed £200 million for workforce training and the recruitment of multi-agency "Experts at Hand".

• The CIEA Response: Insist that this training can include specific modules on appropriate assessment for the full spectrum of SEND needs.

• Assessment Goal: Ensure that all teachers, not just specialists, are equipped with the assessment literacy needed for early identification and universal support.

3. Digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs) as Assessment Tools

• The Issue: The move to digital ISPs aims to create a portable, regularly updated record of support co-produced with families.

• The CIEA Response: Recommend that the CIEA provides the standards for the assessment data within these ISPs to ensure they remain robust and evidence-based across different regions.

• Assessment Goal: Use ISPs to reduce the "postcode lottery" of support by ensuring consistent assessment standards nationwide.

4. Facilitating Collaboration and Transition

• The Issue: Young people with SEND often face significant hurdles when transitioning to adulthood and employment.

• The CIEA Response: Address how assessment systems currently enable or disable collaboration between schools, colleges, and employers.

• Assessment Goal: Promote assessment frameworks that support "stepping-stone" qualifications and preparation for adulthood.

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My Suggested Next Steps:

The following actions have been confirmed following our internal discussion on the SEND White Paper:

1. Draft Submission Development: A subcommittee might draft the formal consultation response by early May, focusing on the "visibility" of pupils through progress-based assessment.

2. National Inclusion Standards Advocacy: The CIEA might seek to influence the proposed National Inclusion Standards to ensure that assessment is a core accountability measure.

3. Collaborative Briefing: Arrange a suggested online meeting with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists to align our advocacy for integrated, early-intervention assessment training.

4. Member Consultation: Release a survey to CIEA members to gather case studies on how current assessment hurdles lead to an "adversarial" system for families.

5. Final Review: Ensure the final submission emphasizes that robust legal rights to assessment and support must be safeguarded during the transition to the new system.