The Government’s consultation on their proposed reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, or SEND, system closed on May 18th.

Yet among the 39 consultation questions spread over 136 pages, one issue was notable by its absence: school admissions.

Judging by the analysis in a new report by the Sutton Trust called ‘Selective Inclusion’, ignoring state school admission policies within discussions of the SEND system is potentially a worrying oversight.

Their report finds that the top 500 state secondary schools take in half as many disadvantaged pupils with SEND as the average comprehensive school, and they admit 36% fewer than live in the school’s catchment area.

So why are some state schools admitting far fewer pupils with SEND than other schools? Is it the job of headteachers, government ministers or Ofsted inspectors to tackle this problem? And what do teachers and school leaders say they need from government to make sure that they can offer the best possible support to every pupil who needs it?

My guests are Charley O’Regan, the School Engagement Lead at the Sutton Trust and one of the authors of their new report, and Jonny Uttley, an education leadership consultant and a former headteacher and CEO of a school trust.

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