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Funding for projects that improve outcomes for children with SEND

Funding is available for projects that aim to raise the attainment of children with SEND from the age of three.

The EEF is looking for proposals for projects which improve attainment and other educational outcomes, such as social and emotional learning, for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) between the ages of three and 18.

Any organisation working in schools and other educational settings, including nurseries, can apply.

Projects must meet the following criteria in order to be successful:

  • Build upon previous research and be informed and supported by evidence of impact on learning outcomes. However, ideas at an ‘early stage’ that would benefit from piloting and are innovative and underpinned by strong evidence-based theory, will also be considered.
  • Be practical, cost-effective and scalable.
  • Able to be independently evaluated.
  • Are clear in how they will support children with SEND.

The closing dates for entries is 14 January 2019.

Sir Kevan Collins, chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), said,

‘Pupils with special educational needs may face significant challenges in their learning. As a result, the attainment gap between this group and their peers is very large. Pupils with SEND are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, too, and face a double disadvantage.

‘While much of our work to date has relevance to teaching pupils with special education needs, I’m pleased that - for the first time - we’re committing to fund projects focused specifically on improving outcomes for this group of learners and learning how best to robustly evaluate such programmes.

‘This new fund will give us much-needed information about how we can give schools and teachers the tools they need to best support their pupils with special educational needs .’

A fresh round of funding for early years professional development and leadership is expected to open at the end of the month.

  • To apply for funding for SEND projects click here