A Guide to Best Practice in Special Education, Health and Social Care: Making the System Work to Meet the Needs of Children, Young People and Their Families

A Guide to Best Practice in Special Education, Health and Social Care explores and explains the changes in governmental policies across the education, health and social care services, and what they mean for young individuals, parents and professionals. In a period of significant change, many practitioners need to understand the government’s plans for bringing about a more efficient, effective and sustainable system to meet the needs of young people and their families. Without trawling through reviews, green papers, white papers and bills, this book not only explains the significance of recent events, but provides practical examples, in the form of conversations and case studies, about how parents and professionals are making change happen. With decades of experience, Rona Tutt and Paul Williams delve deep into the separate origins of the three strands – the SEND Review, the review of children’s social care, and the Health and Care Act 2022. The book explores how pupils in different types of schools can have their needs met more effectively; how to make better use of available resources; and how to create a culture of mutual respect across all the three services. A Guide to Best Practice in Special Education, Health and Social Care not only fills in gaps in readers’ knowledge about the working of all three services, but provides innovative examples of how change is happening at ground level. People of all age groups working in schools and seeking to enhance their knowledge will find it to be an essential read. It will also be of interest to parents and professionals from across health and social care.

Table of Contents:
Introductory chapter: why this book has been written Part I: Accomodating all young people 1. Recent developments across education, health and social care 2. The SEND Green Paper 2022: an evolving SEND system 3. The Review of Children’s Social Care 2022: resetting the system 4. The Health and Care Act 2022: Implementing integrated care systems Part II: Establishing a successful system 5. Meeting the needs of the majority 6. Meeting the needs of a minority 7. Responsibility, accountability and funding 8. Conclusion: Achieving better outcomes for all 9. Appendix 1: Key Documents across education, health and social care 1970–2022 10. Appendix 2: Recommendations: The independent review of children’s social care

About the Author :
Rona Tutt has an OBE for her services to special needs education. She is a former head teacher, Past President of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and a fellow of UCL’s Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE). Paul Williams has been the head teacher of two special schools in London. He was on NAHT’s National Executive for many years and chair of the SEND Council. He has also been a national leader of education (NLE).

Review :
"At a point when education, health and social care are in complete turmoil and individuals are struggling to access the support, services and provision that they require, this publication will offer a welcome discourse to help parents and professionals to better understand the political and social landscape that we are currently living and working in." Lorraine Petersen, OBE - Educational Consultant. "Dr Rona Tutt and Paul Williams are perfectly placed to navigate through this challenging time of changing policy. With real world examples of great practice, they showcase innovative approaches to achieving an integrated system to support children and young people and their families effectively and responsively. This book offers an important tool in achieving meaningful and lasting change." Dr Amelia Roberts, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of UCL Centre for Inclusive Education, Associate Professor (Teaching) and Vice Dean (Enterprise) "This book is designed for the busy educational professional. Navigating through the current complexities of education legislation can be time consuming. Written with clarity and insight this is the ideal reference text to guide teachers and other professionals to meaningful, child centred solutions." Professor Barry Carpenter, CBE, D.Litt., Professor of Mental Health in Education, Oxford Brookes University.