BASE Response to the SEND White Paper: “Every Child Achieving and Thriving”
The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) officially welcomes the publication of the Government’s long-awaited SEND reforms White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, alongside the accompanying consultation, SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First.
The White Paper rightly and publicly recognises that far too many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are currently being failed by fragmented systems, late intervention, and exceptionally poor preparation for adulthood—especially regarding pathways to employment. We strongly commend the explicit emphasis within the document on lifelong outcomes, including employment, and its candid recognition that inconsistent preparation for adulthood is a major systemic weakness that must be addressed for any reform to succeed.
Employment as a Core Outcome, Not an Add-on
For many years, BASE and our national membership have persistently highlighted that employment too often sits at the very margins of SEND planning, rather than at its heart. We therefore strongly welcome the White Paper’s clear, unambiguous statement that SEND reform must actively support young people to lead productive adult lives, with paid employment formally recognised as a central outcome alongside education, health, and general wellbeing.
Stronger Transitions into Adulthood and Work
BASE fully supports the White Paper’s concerted focus on strengthening critical transitions, particularly at the post-16 and post-19 educational stages. Too many young people with SEND experience a devastating “cliff-edge” as they leave formal education, losing vital momentum, professional support, and opportunity at precisely the point where pathways into work should be at their absolute strongest.
The firm proposals to improve data-sharing protocols, clarify statutory accountability for transitions, and significantly strengthen continuity of support across education and health systems are positive steps forward. However, for these well-intentioned reforms to deliver real, measurable impact, explicit employment pathways must be deeply embedded within all transition planning as a matter of standard practice.
Evidence-Based Pathways Must Sit at the Centre of Reform
There is a remarkably robust national and international evidence base clearly demonstrating that Supported Employment, particularly models like Supported Internships, is highly effective in supporting young people with SEND into sustained, meaningful paid employment. These proven approaches perfectly exemplify the “what works” principle that the White Paper champions and must therefore be treated as core delivery mechanisms, not merely optional enhancements.
What Must Happen Next
To ensure these critical reforms genuinely deliver for young people with SEND who desperately want to work, we firmly believe the following actions are essential:
- Embed employment outcomes within Ofsted: Employment must be a key component of success within Ofsted criteria, from Early Years right through to Adulthood.
- Commission proven pathways: Recognise and locally commission Supported Employment and Supported Internships as the primary transition-to-work pathways.
- Accountability: Support and hold local systems strictly accountable for delivering ambitious, employment-focused transitions.
- Invest in the workforce: Ensure every single young person with SEND has access to highly trained job coaches as a fundamental, non-negotiable part of their educational support.
