Parental Experiences of the United Kingdom Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Review Consultation

This qualitative study explores the experiences of parents of disabled young people in the UK regarding their participation (or non-participation) in the 2022 Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Review public consultation. The consultation followed the UK Government's Green Paper on reforms to the SEND system. The study conducted interviews and focus groups with 21 parents to capture their responses to the SEND Review and understand the challenges they encountered during the consultation process. Findings revealed that parents considered the consultation to be both inadequate and inaccessible, alongside a broader finding relating to parents' compounded experiences of voicelessness in the SEND system. This study calls for future SEND reforms, and their associated consultations, to be more transparent, inclusive and genuinely collaborative with both parents and young people.