Sensory Integration Education

Last month, the government released its Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, and with it came a wave of uncertainty, debate and deeply felt emotion across the SEND community. In this month’s Thoughts from a Therapist blog, Anna Willis reflects on what this paper might mean for the children and families we support and why she believes that simply increasing the number of EHCPs isn’t the answer. 

Well, it feels like it’s been an eventful few weeks! The government’s new white paper ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ came out last month and - at the time you’re reading this blog - who knows how the landscape looks now! This white paper and the leaks around it have generated so much anxiety in the families I support. Will there still be EHCPs? Will my child get the support they need? Is funding going to be obliterated? It’s been such a huge, heavy burden for families to carry, on top of all their usual daily battles with local authorities, schools, health services – fighting for their children, fighting to have their rights respected. I feel the exhaustion from them. And this new white paper has knocked everyone sideways.

There’s a lot of ambiguity, vague propositions and a lot of details missing. And yet. I’m excited. Apprehensive too. In 2016, 2.7% of children had EHCPs (so says the Institute for Fiscal Studies). Now in 2026, 5.2% of children have EHCPs. That’s the equivalent of 1 in 37 children in 2016 to 1 in 20 now. So less than 1 child per class, to more than 1 child per class.

As any of us know if we are working in, adjacent to or involved somehow in education, children’s needs have changed. More children are finding school harder. Why? I mean, there’s a question. This is something that ruminates in my brain a lot but let’s not dive into that one today (maybe I’ll revisit that in a future Thoughts from a Therapist blog!)

The answer to this is not more EHCPs. The answer is to change schools to meet children where they are now. Be more inclusive from day one. Train all staff in SEND. Make environments sensory friendly. Change the curriculum (shock horror!) Will the reform do this? There are hopeful nuggets in there. 

The plan is to make schools more inclusive so more children can thrive. I’m not a huge fan of the word ‘achieving’ coming before ‘thriving’ or even being a focus but I’ll put that to one side for the time being. There is hope. With this white paper, the government are acknowledging that keeping schools the same and just increasing the number of EHCPs is not the answer. My hope is that this is motivated not just by saving money, but genuinely because it’s the right thing to do for our children.

As health professionals – OTs and SLTs, for example – we are in a prime position to help. We are the Experts at Hand they refer to. Those of us with experience of working in a school setting (particularly any of us in PINS), have a wealth of knowledge already. There aren’t enough of us. But as an OT, I was pleased to hear OTs being mentioned on Woman’s Hour as part of their episode examining the white paper. We are integral to the implementation of this plan. 

Let’s have our voices heard. You can contribute to the consultation here.

Anna

PS You are also invited to attend a discussion session hosted by Beth Smithson and Sensory Inclusive Schools on 15th April (9am – 11am). This session ‘Listening, Reflecting and Responding: Ayres Sensory Integration in Schools - Consultation Response’ is for therapists working in school settings who deliver Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy and ASI-informed interventions to support students in education. This is an opportunity for therapists to come together, reflect on what these changes may mean in practice and discuss the key points we feel need to be raised in response to the formal consultation. Book your free place here.

Thoughts From a Therapist is a regular series written by Advanced SI Practitioner Anna Willis about something that piqued her professional interest or inspired her in some way over the last month. Anna, an occupational therapist and owner of Active Play Therapies.