Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

The Children and Families Act 2014 (CFA 2014) came into force on 1 September 2014, replacing the Education Act 1996 (EA 1996), under which children received provision through statements of special educational need (SEN). CFA 2014 required statements to be replaced in England with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. In Wales, Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (ALNET(W)A 2018) came into force transitionally from September 2021–August 2025, and together with a new Additional Learning Needs Code, has abolished statements of SEN and learning disability assessments (LDA) replacing them with individual development plans (IDPs).

For a record of news, consultations, legislation and developments covering the entire spectrum of education, including SEND, see Practice Note: Education tracker.

CFA 2014 (England)

Under CFA 2014, a child or young person has special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for special educational provisions to be made for them. Special educational provisions are additional or different from that which would normally be provided for children or young people of the same age. This

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