Navigating the Challenges and Future of SEND: A SEND Case Officers Perspective
12 Mar, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- About the part SEND Case Officers play in navigating the challenges and future of SEND.
- How the pandemic continues to impact SEND provision.
- The benefits of a national Education Health Care template for children and young people as well as local authorities.
- Where the latest SEND Case Officer jobs are and how to apply for them.
The world of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is evolving rapidly, shaped by policy changes, increasing demand, and funding challenges.
In this exclusive interview, we spoke with an experienced SEND Case Officer about their career journey, the biggest challenges facing the sector and the future of SEND provision.
This SEND Case Officer sheds light on the impact of the pandemic and explores the benefits of a standardised Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) template to provide structure and fairness for families, professionals and local authorities.
Tell us about your career journey so far and your current role?
I have always had an interest in SEND and I have wider family members who have required support and were fortunate enough to receive it. I have seen firsthand the positive impact this support has had on them and I’ve also seen the stress it imposes when challenges arise.
I undertook a change in career path after taking time out to raise my own family and started training to become a Level 3 Teaching Assistant, utilising this experience to apply for a role as a SEND Administrative Assistant at a local secondary academy.
Over the next few years, I undertook further training in assessing young people for Exam Access Arrangements and eventually completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs. I was promoted to Assistant SENCO across 3 school settings (2 primary 1 secondary), but could not look to develop this role further without completing a teaching degree, and so looked for an alternative avenue to develop my career in.
I began work for a local authority as a SEND Case Officer in 2020. I have since completed the NASEN SEND Case Officer Level 4 award and various other training opportunities within SEND.
How has SEND provision changed over the past 12 months, and where do you see it heading in 2025?
The number of applications for EHC Needs Assessment has increased exponentially since the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic and shows no sign of slowing down. Young children are showing the impact of reduced opportunities for social interaction and the development of communication skills, and older children have been impacted through a lack of development of resilience.
Attendance across all year groups has been impacted by emotional-based school avoidance and the lasting effects of the pandemic. Having spent extended periods at home, some children and young people struggle to understand why they must return to school. These issues in our post-Covid society are not going away.
The lack of local specialist school options, growing class sizes in mainstream schools and the expectation that mainstream staff accommodate children and young people with needs beyond their expertise can lead to conflicts between schools and parents. This has left a gap in the market for independent, fee paying, specialist settings to emerge.
What are the main challenges currently facing the SEND system and what do you think could help address the current challenges in the SEND system?
The review of the SEND Code of Practice is taking longer than expected (having been proposed prior to the 2024 General Elections.) The building of new schools is insufficient nationwide to meet the demands seen within individual local authorities, which are facing financial difficulty themselves due to increased costs for SEND placement and transport.
I think a national EHCP template would benefit parents, children and young people as well as local authorities to ensure consistency and structure of EHC Plans. This would be a relatively quick and easy fix, but no confirmation has been given that this is due.
Despite rising inflation, general funding for schools hasn’t increased in years and SEND funding is not ring-fenced in schools meaning it can be utilised elsewhere if required. Ensuring SEND funding is used for purpose would greatly benefit mainstream schools by guaranteeing that SEND funding goes to SEND children and provision.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the SEND sector and how did you overcome them?
Volume of work is the biggest single challenge; demands and workload are high which can impact mental health and wellbeing for individuals and teams. Caseloads are high and mostly unmanageable, meaning there is inexorable pressure on SEND Case Officers to meet deadlines for individual cases.
Within the actual role, placement of girls and boys – with SEMH difficulties can take months, with home tuition needed to fill the gap – though this is never as effective as attending a school can be.
Often young people with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs or Communication and Interaction difficulties often struggle to engage with home education, as these challenges create barriers to their learning.
How might SEND provision change under Labour’s government and what reforms do you foresee?
A radical overhaul of the 2014 SEND Code of Practice is required. I see the need for more schools, more funding, a universal EHCP across all local authorities and lower caseloads for staff.
What's the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt in your career so far?
“You cannot eat an elephant all in one go” – no one person can do everything required. Issues need to follow procedure and procedure can be time consuming.
How do you keep up-to-date with changes in the SEND industry?
I look to NASEN for updates, undertake relevant training and have an active interest in politics!
What’s your vision for the future of SEND services and what changes would you like to see in 2025?
SEND services thrive when SEND Case Officers have time to develop relationships with settings and families. My own personal vision would be a SEND service with sufficient staff to meet caseload demands and sufficient settings to meet the number of children and young people requiring places. Money should not be an object in education in my personal opinion.
I would love to see recognition of the need for increased funding and staffing in SEND departments across the country so that the services offered to children, young people and parents could occur more readily within the timeframes set out within the SEND Code of Practice.
I would like the timeframes for all processes reviewed and lengthened to allow for the fact that there are not enough SEND Case Officers to manage demand. I would like a universal EHCP template to ensure consistency for all children and young people.
Finally, increased funding for mainstream schools so that when asked to consider a child with SEND the first response is not a “No” due to funding and staffing requirements.
What advice would you give to aspiring SEND professionals?
SEND within a local authority is a stressful area to work in, but it can be incredibly rewarding and wonderful when things go well. You need to manage your time well and ensure that your personal time is not eaten up with overtime to ‘just finish that last task.’ There can be a tendency to overwork, which leads to burnout, but you have to be strict with yourself to manage this.
However, that being said, helping children, young people and their families is rewarding and if you’re passionate about making a difference, this may be the role for you!
SCG educational psychology report
As specialists in SEND recruitment, we work alongside hundreds of Educational Psychologists throughout the UK and are mindful of the challenges they face in their ever evolving role.
After commissioning our own research from Educational Psychologists in both local authorities and private practice, we published the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024.
The report delves into trends within educational psychology, funding and resources, industry challenges, policies and legislation and the future of educational psychology.
Read the SCG Educational Psychology Workforce Insights Report 2024 here.
SEND Case Officer jobs
If you’re searching for your next SEND Case Officer job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Recruit SEND Case Officers
As specialist local authority SEND recruiters, we support local authorities nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent staffing needs.
If you’re struggling to recruit, we have exclusive access to some of the most experienced SEND Case Officers in the UK.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- South of the UK - Richard Shorrock
- Midlands & North of the UK - Adam Zyda
Share your experience
Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the SEND sector.
If you work in the SEND sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions.
Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
