Evaluation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Pathfinder Programme
Client: Department for Education
In 2011, SQW was commissioned to lead the Evaluation of the Department for Education's Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEN&D) Green Paper Pathfinder Programme, in conjunction with Ipsos MORI, OPM and BPSR. The aim of the programme was to improve the support available to children and young people with SEN&D. The proposals being tested included the introduction of a new single assessment process, an education, health and care (EHC) plan and personal budgets for children, young people and families with SEN&D.
The evaluation involved a detailed scoping phase, followed by the undertaking of a process, impact and economic evaluation of the programme, as well as an evaluation of the support team that have been commissioned to provide delivery assistance to the pathfinder sites.
The final reports considered families' experience of the new system, the impact that the new system has had on perceptions of satisfaction, fairness and outcomes as well as the cost effectiveness of the new approach. The results of the evaluation were used to inform future policy in this area.
The evaluation reports can be found here.
