What Is the SEND Code of Practice?

What it actually is

Statutory guidance, not just best practice

The SEND Code of Practice is statutory guidance for England, meaning schools, Local Authorities, and health bodies must have regard to it by law, not just treat it as advisory best practice. It sets out duties, policies, and procedures for identifying, assessing, and supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, from birth to age 25.

It was introduced in its current form in 2014, replacing an earlier version, alongside the Children and Families Act 2014, which is the actual primary legislation underneath it. The Code of Practice is the detailed guidance; the Act is the law itself.

Who it applies to

Scope

Every state-funded school in England, every Local Authority, and every relevant health body has legal duties under the Code of Practice. Independent schools have some duties too, though the detail differs. International schools outside England don't fall under it directly, though many British-curriculum international schools reference it as a framework even without the statutory obligation, since it's a widely respected model even where it isn't legally binding.

Core principles

The four ideas everything else follows from

A graduated response. Support should escalate in stages, assess, plan, do, review, rather than jumping straight to the most intensive intervention available. This cycle is meant to repeat continuously, not run once and stop.

A child and family-centred approach. No significant decision should be made about a child's provision without genuinely involving the child and their parents, not just informing them afterward.

Focus on outcomes, not just provision. The Code is explicit that what matters is the difference support makes, not simply that support was delivered. This is the principle most often honoured in name only, since tracking genuine outcomes is harder than tracking attendance at an intervention.

Early identification. The Code places real weight on catching need early, rather than waiting for a child to fall significantly behind before acting.

School duties

What it actually requires of a school

• A designated SENCO, in most schools a qualified teacher, required to hold the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCo) within three years of taking up the role in a mainstream school.
• A published SEND policy and information report, accessible to parents.
• A graduated response for every pupil identified as having SEN.
• Genuine involvement of parents and pupils in decisions about their own support.
• Regular review of provision, not just an annual formality.