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.

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).