In January 2026, the Children's Commissioner published a landmark sector report drawing on a national school census and in-depth consultation with special schools and alternative provision (AP) settings. The findings are both sobering and clarifying — especially for anyone working with children whose needs stretch beyond mainstream education.
Special and alternative settings educate some of the most vulnerable young people in England. Although they represent only a small proportion of all pupils, the support they provide is critical — helping young people with additional needs, behavioural challenges, illness or exclusion stay engaged in learning.
Yet the report highlights systemic pressures that risk undermining this work.
Key challenges facing special schools and APs
Funding and staffing pressures. More than half of special schools and AP settings report workforce shortages among their top concerns. This restricts tailored support and squeezes capacity in a system already operating near or at full stretch.
Fragmented data and service integration. Many settings struggle to understand pupils' wider needs because services across education, health and care are poorly linked. Without joined-up information, it's harder to deliver truly holistic support.
Uneven access to specialist support. Special schools frequently provide wraparound services — such as speech and language therapy, family liaison, and wellbeing interventions — but this is uneven across the system. Many schools report wanting further core services integrated into the pupil offer.
Systemic disadvantage and inclusion gaps. Children with complex needs continue to face barriers, both educational and social. The report underscores that reforms benefiting the mainstream education sector haven't reached all pupils equally.
What the report calls for
The Commissioner advocates a national framework that:
- Sets clear expectations and accountability for both special schools and AP settings
- Guarantees access to specialist support services such as family liaison, mental health teams, and allied professionals
- Improves coordination between education, health and social care systems
This vision acknowledges not only the educational needs of vulnerable children but also the wider social and well-being support they need to flourish.
Why this matters for practitioners
For educators, tutors, SEN providers and children's services professionals, this report is a wake-up call.
- Pupil understanding matters — settings must have the data they need
- Support must be holistic — academic progress and wellbeing go hand in hand
- Collaboration is essential — education doesn't end at the classroom door
Change won't happen overnight. But this report provides a strong evidence base for action and partnership.
The conversation we need
If you're working in AP, SEN support, tutoring, or alternative provision, this report should be on your radar. What opportunities does it highlight? Where is the system letting children down? And how can providers, schools and local services work better together to meet these needs?
We'd love to hear your experiences and reflections.