Primary school students sitting in a classroom being taught by a teacher in the North East of England. The students are answering questions with their arms in the air, the focus being on their arms.

The IPPR Inclusion Taskforce

The IPPR Inclusion Taskforce

The IPPR Inclusion Taskforce is dedicated to fixing England’s failing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system — a system now at breaking point. 

Chaired by Geoff Barton, former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, the taskforce brings together experts, practitioners, and the voices of families to develop a clear roadmap for change.

With six children in every classroom now identified as having additional needs, and the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) doubling in the last decade, urgent reform is essential. The taskforce will gather evidence from across the country — from children, parents, schools, colleges, local authorities, and support professionals — to identify practical solutions to persistent challenges, from assessment delays to patchy provision and poor outcomes.

Our work will culminate in a set of robust principles for reform, offering an ambitious yet achievable vision for an inclusive education system that works for every child. Findings will be published in autumn 2025, providing independent insights to help shape the government’s forthcoming SEND reforms.

A primary school classroom. In the foreground are pots of pencils and rulers and water bottles. Children in blue school uniform are blurred in the background

The IPPR Inclusion Taskforce

Read our blog announcing the launch of the taskforce

Talking Inclusion... with Geoff Barton

Listen to our podcast hosted by Geoff Barton, chair of the taskforce, featuring conversations with parents, teachers, young people, and experts from across the UK.
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The taskforce

Meet the experts, practitioners, and the voices of families who are working on the taskforce.
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Further content for The IPPR Inclusion Taskforce