Prof Jo van Herwegen, UCL Institute of Education

Addressing Educational Attainment Gaps for Students with SEND through Targeted interventions: Evidence from MetaSENse
Abstract: Students with SEND have been shown to have lower educational attainment across all phases of education compared to their typically developing peers. Targeted interventions that include short term, focused teaching approaches delivered in small groups or one-to-one settings often use of a named and ‘manualised’ (i.e., has a published and accessible manual) approach to help students with SEND catchup. However, it can be difficult for teachers to identify and implement the most effective interventions for those with different needs. In this talk I will discuss evidence from the MetaSENse study which examined the impact of targeted interventions for improving educational outcomes (i.e. reading, writing, mathematics, science and general attainment) among children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 4-25 using a systematic review and meta-analysis. In-depth interviews with education professionals explored current practice and barriers to implementing effective evidence-based approaches. I will discuss the findings and impact of the MetaSENse study as well as future directions of this research.