Young People with SEN in the Secure Estate

We worked with the Department for Education to advise them on the development and implementation of the new duties to extend SEN support to young people in the secure estate.

Research tells us that between 60-90% of children and young people in custody have speech language and communication needs. We know that around 18% of young people in custody have a statement of SEN or an Education Health and Care plan compared to less than 3% in the general population. Young offenders often have difficult and often poor experience of education, and this has contributed to their offending behaviour. 

CDC works to improve outcomes for disabled children and young people, and those with special educational needs, who are at risk of entering custody, are currently detained in youth custody or who are being released in youth custody

The Children and Families Act 2014 for the first time grants entitlements to support to children and young people with SEN in custody. Previously they have not been covered by SEN legislation. The Special Educational Consortium (SEC) campaigned for children and young people in custody to receive support while they are detained, and this was included in the Children and Families Act which had originally excluded this group of children.

Following the passage of the Act, CDC brought together a broad range of stakeholders and supported DfE in the development of Regulations and the relevant sections of Chapter 10 of the Code of Practice relating to children and young people in custody. CDC also developed produced and disseminated early materials explaining the duties and the processes involved in identifying young people with special educational needs, assessing those needs and making provision for them, including through Education, Health and Care plans.