Menace: Strengthening the Evidence Base for SEND Reform and Early Intervention
How our Trainee Consultants from the PhD Accelerator programme applied research skills to real-world challenges
Summary
The trainee consulting team from the third cohort of our PhD Accelerator programme, consisting of Rebecca Muir and Fraser Canning, partnered with Mencap, the UK’s leading charity for people with a learning disability. The project focused on the intersection of formal diagnosis, access to statutory educational support, and the evidence base for early intervention. These issues were made more urgent by the government’s February 2026 white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, which proposed restricting eligibility for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) without clearly defining replacement provision.
Objective
To conduct a focused evidence review examining two related questions: how formal diagnosis shapes access to educational support for children and young people with a learning disability, and what the evidence shows about the impact and cost-effectiveness of early intervention for this group. The project aimed to produce a report that could directly inform Mencap’s policy and campaigns strategy in relation to ongoing SEND reforms.
What the team did
The team carried out a structured review of the legislative and policy framework governing EHCP provision in England, drawing on primary legislation, government data, and peer-reviewed research. They analysed national trends in EHCP issuance and SEN provision, examined the gap between a legally needs-based system and one that functions as diagnosis-dependent in practice, and synthesised evidence on the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of early identification and intervention.
This included a review of tribunal data, socioeconomic inequalities in access, and the experiences of families navigating the system. The final report combined quantitative government statistics, academic evidence, and qualitative perspectives from parents, practitioners, and advocacy organisations.
Outcome
The report provided Mencap with a well-evidenced, clearly structured resource that was shared internally and received positive feedback. Key findings highlighted the 80% growth in EHCPs since 2019, the strong evidence base for early intervention, the structural inequities shaping access to provision, and significant gaps in current research and policy.
The output is being used to strengthen Mencap’s internal understanding of the evidence base relating to SEND and learning disability, and to inform its policy and campaigns work on SEND reform. Through this project, the team gained practical experience in translating complex legislative and academic material into actionable, policy-relevant insights, while navigating the consulting challenge of scope management and maintaining close alignment with client priorities.
