DfE funds research into identifying SEND sooner
The government is funding research into developing smarter data tools to help identify children with special educational needs sooner.
New government-backed research delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) will explore how to support earlier identification of needs, meaning evidence-informed interventions can be put in place more quickly. This will give parents confidence and equip teachers with practical tools to identify and meet needs, so that more children remain engaged, achieve academically and feel included in their school communities.
The research – which aims to roll out successful pilot approaches to schools by 2028 - will explore how data can be used to identify children that might need extra support sooner. This would enable timely support and interventions and could allow teachers to work with families to track how children are progressing within their learning, their engagement in class and their overall wellbeing.
Through this research, the government will aim to develop and test trusted and effective approaches to help the early identification of children needing tailored education support, for example refining approaches that pinpoint a child’s strengths and weaknesses, helping school leaders and staff work with families to provide tailored support and understand how every child and young person can achieve and thrive within the education system.
Delivery will be led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in partnership with the Department for Education, with an initial £4 million allocated to fund projects to develop and test approaches for early identification.
This research is part of the government’s wider work to transform the SEND system for families across England and its commitment to effective early identification and intervention, which is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people who face barriers to their learning.
This new research initiative aims to explore how earlier identification and data-driven approaches could support earlier intervention while ensuring data is subject to rigorous data protection, safeguarding protocols, and ethical approvals.
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