The SEND Governance Checklist 2026/27 is for governors, trustees and school leaders overseeing support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
This edition reflects Ofsted's school inspection toolkit for inspections from September 2026, where inclusion is its own evaluation area, along with KCSIE 2026, the DfE governance guides updated in July 2026 and the DfE's guidance for governing boards on SEN and disabilities.
What's inside
- Governance and accountability, including a lead governor or committee for SEND
- Funding and the inclusive mainstream fund
- Working with the local authority
- Identification, provision and transition
- The SENCO's role and qualification
- Published information, including the SEN information report and allergy safety policy
- Equality and reasonable adjustments
There is a Notes column on every row. A short note covers SEND reform: the proposals in the February 2026 schools white paper are not yet law.
Format: editable Word document and a PDF.
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