Universal SEND Services Process and Impact Evaluation
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| Title: | Universal SEND Services Process and Impact Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Department for Education (DfE) (United Kingdom), CFE Research Ltd. (United Kingdom) |
| Source: | UK Department for Education. 2026. |
| Availability: | UK Department for Education. Castle View House East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ, UK. Tel: +44-37-0000-2288; Fax: +44-19-2873-8248; Web site: http://www.education.gov.uk |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 108 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Postsecondary Education Elementary Education Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Special Needs Students, Students with Disabilities, Faculty Development, Foreign Countries, School Personnel, Professional Development, Postsecondary Education, Mainstreaming, Educational Quality, Educational Improvement, Outcomes of Education, Program Evaluation, Instructional Improvement, Student Needs, Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Inclusion |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom (England) |
| ISBN: | 978-1-83870-732-3 |
| Abstract: | Universal SEND Services (USS) is a programme of training and continuous professional development (CPD) in England and is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) until 2026. The programme provides school and college staff with free, flexible training and resources designed to fit around school and college life. A series of 20 Online CPD Units, developed in partnership with sector specialists with a focus on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), form the backbone of the programme--together with Specialist Spotlight Sessions, live Webinars, interactive and downloadable Toolkits, and regional networking and support. USS aimed to develop the skills and knowledge of the mainstream school and further education (FE) workforce, so that the needs of more children and young people with SEND were identified earlier and met effectively. The training programme also sought to drive change in attitudes and approaches to SEND across mainstream settings and encourage the development of more inclusive cultures that would better serve the needs of children and young people with SEND. Achievement of these objectives was intended to enhance the learning experience of children and young people with SEND, and lead to improved outcomes--including wellbeing, attendance, behaviour and attainments in the short-to-medium term, and successful transitions and sustainable employment in the long term. The DfE commissioned this evaluation to understand how, and to what extent, Universal SEND Services has resulted in improved quality of mainstream provision of support and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The theory-based evaluation focused on the period from the programme's launch in 2022 until the end of March 2025 and used a mixed-methods approach, including analysis of management information, a multi-wave survey, qualitative case studies, and research diaries. This report provides the evaluation findings and provides useful insight into how USS has supported the professional development of the education workforce, and shaped policy and practice in a range of settings. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED679960 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Universal SEND Services (USS) is a programme of training and continuous professional development (CPD) in England and is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) until 2026. The programme provides school and college staff with free, flexible training and resources designed to fit around school and college life. A series of 20 Online CPD Units, developed in partnership with sector specialists with a focus on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), form the backbone of the programme--together with Specialist Spotlight Sessions, live Webinars, interactive and downloadable Toolkits, and regional networking and support. USS aimed to develop the skills and knowledge of the mainstream school and further education (FE) workforce, so that the needs of more children and young people with SEND were identified earlier and met effectively. The training programme also sought to drive change in attitudes and approaches to SEND across mainstream settings and encourage the development of more inclusive cultures that would better serve the needs of children and young people with SEND. Achievement of these objectives was intended to enhance the learning experience of children and young people with SEND, and lead to improved outcomes--including wellbeing, attendance, behaviour and attainments in the short-to-medium term, and successful transitions and sustainable employment in the long term. The DfE commissioned this evaluation to understand how, and to what extent, Universal SEND Services has resulted in improved quality of mainstream provision of support and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The theory-based evaluation focused on the period from the programme's launch in 2022 until the end of March 2025 and used a mixed-methods approach, including analysis of management information, a multi-wave survey, qualitative case studies, and research diaries. This report provides the evaluation findings and provides useful insight into how USS has supported the professional development of the education workforce, and shaped policy and practice in a range of settings. |
|---|---|
| ISBN: | 978-1-83870-732-3 |
