Supporting ALL to thrive

With rising demand for specialist support, long waiting times and insufficient specialist school places and staff, children with additional educational needs and/or disability in the UK face significant challenges. Service children may be particularly disadvantaged, experiencing inconsistencies in provision across local authorities and delays in assessments and the allocation of support. Parents report fighting to get their children’s educational needs met. Little is known about the outcomes of Service children with SEND compared with their non-Service counterparts. They have been described as a ‘forgotten sub-population’. 

The Supporting All to Thrive study will shed light on the educational outcomes of Service children with SEND, linked to a nuanced understanding of the dynamics and complexities characterising their educational trajectories and experiences. Findings will aid policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders in targeting resources, ensuring consistent provision, implementing evidence-based solutions to support Service children with additional needs, and fulfilling their Covenant Duty obligations. By enhancing the understanding and confidence of those who care for them, the research will support Service children and their families to thrive.

The study comprises three complementary strands:

• Strand 1 - We will analyse national-level pupil datasets to compare the attainment of Service children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability with non-Service peers. This strand will provide a detailed understanding of the prevalence of additional needs among Service children in England, and will shed important light on their educational outcomes.
• Strand 2 - A survey for parents will inform a better understanding of the experiences of provision for children with additional needs from both Service and non-Service families It will also improve our awareness of any distinct groups of children with additional needs who particularly thrive or struggle educationally and our knowledge of factors affecting children’s success.
• Strand 3 - Arts workshops with parents and recent school leavers will provide rich insights into families’ and children’s lived experiences, challenges and successes.

Please note that the survey and arts workshop strands of the research are UK-wide.

How does the educational attainment of Service children with SEND inEngland compare with their non-Service peers?

What challenges do Service families face in navigating the education system and accessing SEND provision, compared with non-Service families?

What factorsaffect the educational success and thriving of children with additional needs?

How do parents of Service children with additional needs describe their children's educational journeys, and how do young adults from Service backgrounds who identify as having additional needs describe their lived experiences of schooling?

Survey: 200 parents from both Service and non-Service families

Arts-based workshops: about 20 parents of Service children with additional needs and 8 young adults (aged16-25) who have a Service background and identify as having additional needs.