Government spotlights Surrey school as national model for SEND reform
Meath School, Speech and Language UK’s non-maintained special school in Surrey, has been featured by the Government as a model case study in its new consultation paper, SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First – highlighting how specialist settings can strengthen the wider SEND system through evidence, outreach and consistent practice.
The Government’s consultation describes Meath as children with “the most complex speech and language needs” using an integrated “Total Communication” approach, which was designed by Speech and Language UK and combines teaching, therapy and augmentative communication.
It also points to Meath’s active outreach programme supporting local mainstream schools to improve identification, teaching strategies and inclusive practice.
The paper highlights Meath’s strong research culture and its partnerships – including work with the University of Sheffield and City St George’s, University of London – and notes the development of specialist tools and resources, including Pre-phonics Boost which is now used by mainstream and special schools across England to support children to recognise sounds before they start learning to read.
This recognition comes at a moment of acute national need. Around 92,000 pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) where the primary need is speech, language and communication challenges, and research suggests three children in every class of 30 are likely to have a lifelong speech and language challenge.
Majella Delaney, principal of Meath School, said: “We’ve shown that when teaching and therapy are genuinely integrated - and when every child with speech and language challenges is given a way to be heard through Total Communication – barriers to learning start to shift.
“Every day at our school, we see and hear children learning, laughing and making friends. We need to make that possible for every child in the education system.
“We’re proud that the Government is recognising the role Meath can play not just in delivering excellence on site, but in sharing what works across the system.”
Jane Harris, chief executive of Speech and Language UK, said: “It’s encouraging to see Meath cited as an example of what a modern SEND system should look like: specialist expertise, strong evidence and practical outreach that strengthens mainstream inclusion.
“But a bold vision only becomes real when it is backed by clear pathways, specialist expertise and the tools schools need to deliver – so that children with lifelong speech and language challenges, are protected and not parked in uncertainty.”
Speech and Language UK believes the Government’s consultation is an opportunity to build a system that is more consistent and more equitable by scaling evidence-based practice, investing in specialist expertise and ensuring mainstream settings have the confidence and skills to support children earlier.