COMPUTING & IT RESOURCES
Empowering schools: how education management systems transform
SEND support Simon Freeman, Managing Director for IRIS Education, discusses how schools can implement education management systems to help create cost and efficiency savings that can be put back into SEND support.
S chools face an
unprecedented challenge in supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) finds local authorities’ high-needs deficits have the potential to reach more than £8bn by 2027, with annual spending forecast to rise by £2-3bn in that time.
The £740m recently earmarked by the government to create more specialist places in mainstream
schools will be well received by the sector, but it only goes so far in addressing demand. Almost two million children and young people aged under 25 have special educational needs and the number of children requiring education health and care plans (EHCPs) has soared by 140% since 2015.
This represents another big funding squeeze for schools to navigate, calling for educators to find ways to maximise the efficiency of SEND related resources. It’s clear that without total reform of
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the special educational needs system, SEND spending will continue to eat into school budgets. Schools have an opportunity to harness the power of education management systems to gain data-driven insights for identifying efficiencies and streamline other tasks through automation.
So, how can schools use this technology to ensure all students have access to the same quality of education and support from schools and teachers, and help deliver brilliant outcomes for SEND students?
Enhancing student support
Education management systems offer a unique opportunity to provide additional support to SEND students, alongside gaining efficiencies. Teachers can quickly access student profiles and their requirements on systems, helping them to make more informed decisions, and to efficiently provide more targeted support.
Systems can also help to address more specific challenges, like attendance. It’s estimated that 25% of autistic children have a higher likelihood of struggling with school attendance, which systems can help to track and provide early intervention capabilities. The benefits extend beyond individual classrooms too. These systems facilitate seamless communication between Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs), teachers and parents, creating a more collaborative approach to student support. This
February 2025
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