Dani Payne

SEND reforms are finally here – but will they deliver? Reform of the SEND system was a necessity for this government, as cost spiralled at the same time as the system was failing to deliver for many of the children who need it most.

Myself and @danihpayne.bsky.social's assessment of today's SEND reforms and the potential political battle ahead to pass them -

www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

Brilliant to see the White Paper today highlight what our previous research found: that there is no inherent trade off between wellbeing and attainment and, in fact, they are often mutually reinforcing. www.smf.co.uk/publications... @smfthinktank.bsky.social

Why does the government have to reform the SEND system?

Because the current set up is completely broken - from our recent report, fewer than half (just 38%) of SENCOs report they are able to provide all or almost all of those with EHCPs in their school with the full support set out in their plan -

Lots of overlap between this post and my @smfthinktank.bsky.social paper from 2021 on how policymakers should respond to the problem of signalling in education.

Specifically on the need for better measures of direct "learning gain" from university

A huge thank you to @danfrancis02.bsky.social, @charleyo.bsky.social, @anyasizer.bsky.social and @danihpayne.bsky.social for a thoughtful and wide ranging discussion at today's @smfthinktank.bsky.social panel event on SEND reform.

Thanks so much for coming Adam!

Panel discussion at the Social Market foundation event titled “Fixing SEND:What is possible?” Chair Rebecca Montacute, SMF Panel: Dani Payne SMF, Charlotte O’Reagan Sutton Trust, Cllr Anya Sizer Hackney Council, and Daniel Francis MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford.

Super event at the SMF, exploring the huge topic of ‘fixing SEND’
Thought provoking discussion and strong focus on realistic possibilities.

@smfthinktank.bsky.social
@beckymontacute.bsky.social
@danfrancis02.bsky.social
@charleyo.bsky.social
@anyasizer.bsky.social
@danihpayne.bsky.social

Children with special needs in England will keep current support, minister says Georgia Gould reassures parents that no child will be asked to leave school or have levels of assistance removed

The only way SEND reform will actually happen is if existing support is retained, as @danihpayne.bsky.social and I argued in our briefing last week - without that it risks being too controversial, with reforms kicked into the long grass. Good to see from govt -

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Really looking forward to speaking on this panel this week (what a great line up!). Join us on Wed 14:30 (London) to discuss how we can make the SEND system work better for schools, councils, pupils & families.

Remember to register via events@smf.co.uk (location shared upon registration)

🚨 New research 🚨

We wanted to look at the realistic options for SEND reform, asking teachers where they would focus if there was no additional funding.

Given the debate so far on limiting EHCPs and moving focus has been very negative, we were surprised to find over half of teachers back it ⤵️

As we await the government's upcoming announcement on SEND reform, we're hosting a panel next week to discuss what the options actually are on reform.

Also keep an eye out later this week for a paper on the topic from @danihpayne.bsky.social and I, including new data via @teachertapp.bsky.social

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us earlier this week for our event on social mobility, regional inequalities and young people not in employment, education or training (NEET)

🗓️ Also next week - join the @smfthinktank.bsky.social for an afternoon of discussions on social mobility, regional inequalities and the NEET challenge

Looking forward to this event next week discussing NEET & regional inequalities. We'll hear from Rt Hon Alan Milburn alongside a range of brilliant speakers inc @suttontrust.bsky.social, Recruitment & Employment Confederation, @impetus.org.uk, @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social & Cambridgeshire Regional College

How do we know if it works?: Evaluating higher education regulation Higher education has no shortage of criticisms. Is better evaluation the key to evidence-based change that lasts?

Higher education is often lauded as education’s ‘jewel in the crown’ – but there are no shortage of criticisms about the sector.

Nicola Dandridge writes for the SMF about the role of evaluation, and how best to encourage long-term, evidence-based policy.

Read the full briefing:
buff.ly/Ak4THUm

We're looking for case studies! 📢

The @suttontrust.bsky.social and @smfthinktank.bsky.social are researching school based nurseries - and we're looking far and wide for schools and early years settings with strong partnerships....

If you're attending, pleasingly it'll be relatively hard to avoid the @smfthinktank.bsky.social - our Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social will be on this panel on the future of access and participation ⤵️

Ahead of tonight's Smart Thinking Awards, we're delighted that @danihpayne.bsky.social has been nominated for Think Tanker of the Year!🎉

We're so proud that our own @danihpayne.bsky.social is a finalist for the Smart Thinking Awards' Researcher of the Year!🎉

Dani is our fantastic Head of Education and Social Mobility - working to find policy solutions to make sure everyone has the best start in life.

Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group This group creates proposals to help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education.

We're delighted that our Head of Education & Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social will join the Govt's Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group, which aims to help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education.

buff.ly/JfwInFI

Out of office: on.

The SMF welcomes the new V Level qualifications announced by the Government, as a way of making vocational training more accessable and improving social mobility.

Read @danihpayne.bsky.social's full analysis:
buff.ly/gQgB20H

Not just other people’s children: what the public thinks about vocational education - Social Market Foundation. In this briefing, we present the results of a nationally representative survey which shows that the general public believe vocational qualifications to be just as useful and desirable as a university ...

Previous SMF research highlighted that FE was often ignored in policy conversations and that, despite parents holding similar esteem for FE as HE routes (www.smf.co.uk/publications... ), young people are often pushed to HE through inertia (www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/u...).

A new combined FE/HE target is a great step forwards. HE can be a vital route to social mobility for many, it won’t be right for all. Apprenticeships can also provide pathways into high skilled jobs & we should be ensuring disadvantaged young people access high quality provision across all pathways

A new combined FE/HE target is a great step forwards. HE can be a vital route to social mobility for many, it won’t be right for all. Apprenticeships can also provide pathways into high skilled jobs & we should be ensuring disadvantaged young people access high quality provision across all pathways

Labour to bring back maintenance grants for students on ‘priority’ courses Education secretary says means-tested grants for ‘those who need them most’ will be funded by new international student levy

Social Market Foundation Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social on yesterday's maintenance grant announcement -

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Hoozle is unhappy about the other man in my life (Larry).

‘Really transitional moment’: what should we do about declining fertility rates? As fertility rate hits all-time low in England and Wales, is there cause for concern for the economy and services?

I'm in the Guardian on the economic challenges posed by falling fertility rates -

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Everyday I'm reshuffling | SMF analysis of past reshuffles Could as many as 2 in 5 frontbenchers face the chop this reshuffle? SMF analysis looks at the evidence from previous reshuffles.

As rumours of a reshuffle abound, we take a look at the history of frontbench churn and reshuffles.

Can historical trends tell us anything about how Starmer might approach a potential reshuffle?

SMF's @jamiegollings.bsky.social takes a deep dive.
www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...