Harnessing the power of AI to transform SEND

How the use of AI tools can develop SEND practice, strategy and provision and help to solve the SEND puzzle.

Provision and practice for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) lies at the heart of fostering inclusive and equitable education for all; and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) and school leaders have a responsibility to ensure that children with additional needs receive the tailored support they deserve, thus enabling them to reach their full potential.  This includes the early identification of needs, the design of individual education plans, collaboration with stakeholders, allocation of resources and many other items on an ever-increasing list.  In addition, the increasing diversity and level of need across the SEND landscape has added even greater complexity to the puzzle.

In the Department for Education policy paper, Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education (January 2025), Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education there is a recognition of the potential of generative AI to reduce administrative burdens for teachers and school leaders.  Research indicates that AI is reducing administrative workloads, allowing educators to dedicate more time to teaching and student support.  With heavy workloads and work-life balance concerns adding to teacher recruitment and retention difficulties, AI could prove to be a game-changer, presenting an unprecedented opportunity to easily enhance SEND practice, strategy and provision.  AI tools and systems complement traditional methods by offering innovative, efficient and targeted solutions to address the challenges faced by educators, parents, and learners alike.  So, the key question is, how can SENCos and school leaders harness this power to transform their current SEND strategies and practices?

Personalising Learning at Scale

AI-powered systems can analyse vast amounts of data, including students' progress, learning styles, and challenges, to develop individualised learning plans.  These systems offer tailored recommendations, aiding SENCos to design interventions that meet the unique needs of each learner. As an example, adaptive learning platforms adjust content in real time based on student performance, ensuring that students with SEND remain engaged and supported.

Enhancing Early Identification and Intervention

AI may offer some tools for detecting learning difficulties, developmental delays or behavioural patterns early on.  By analysing performance data and behavioural signals, AI can alert to potential concerns, enabling teachers and SENCOs to promptly intervene and to identify where there is a need for additional specialist support.  Tools such as predictive analytics and screeners can help schools identify students who may not be reaching their full potential, allowing them to design proactive support strategies.

Creating Inclusive Learning Environments

AI-powered assistive tools have revolutionised accessibility for students with SEND. From speech recognition and text-to-speech software to real-time language translation and communication devices, these tools empower students to actively engage in learning. AI-driven captioning for the hearing impaired or eye-gaze-controlled devices for students with physical disabilities can dramatically impact on inclusion and engagement, building independence and ownership whilst breaking down barriers by discreetly offering individualised support.

Supporting Professional Development

AI-based platforms can provide ongoing, personalised professional development for educators and SENCos.  These platforms offer recommendations for courses, resources and strategies based on individual teaching profiles, helping staff to stay informed about emerging SEND methodologies and best practices.

Optimising Resource Allocation

Resource allocation is a critical aspect of SEND practice.  AI systems can analyse data to optimise the distribution of resources, such as specialist staff, support programmes, or funding.  By identifying trends and areas of need, school leaders can ensure that resources are deployed where they are most impactful.

Data-Driven Decision Making

The ability of AI to process large datasets enables schools to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and strategies.  Dashboards powered by AI provide ‘at a glance’ visual insights into student progress and the impact of various initiatives, enabling SENCos and school leaders to refine what they do through an evidence-based approach.

Building Partnerships

AI-powered communication tools can foster greater collaboration between schools and parents/carers by simplifying information sharing.  Automated updates, progress tracking and multilingual translation features can strengthen the partnership between families and educators, ensuring consistent support for students with SEND and active parent/carer engagement.

The integration of AI into SEND practice marks a paradigm shift in how we support students with additional needs.  By embracing AI-driven tools, SENCos and school leaders can enhance their strategies, refine their intervention and ensure that every student receives the personalised support they require to thrive.  However, whilst the use of Generative AI sounds like the answer to our prayers, any use of AI should be carefully considered and evaluated for bias and inaccuracies; and at the end of the day, in any decision that significantly impacts our students, human decision-making should always be prioritised.  As an example of these limitations, when working with sensitive data/documents, there is a need for specialised applications that strictly adhere to data protection guidelines and therefore, the tasks that AI can assist with/the AI tools that are used should be fully considered. 

For school leaders, policy and practice around the use of AI also needs to be carefully considered, and appropriate tools chosen for use.  Structured training and guidelines to ensure its effective and ethical use must be in place and there should be strict adherence to data protection regulations, with clear guidelines on how AI tools should collect, process and store student data. Personal data should be processed transparently and securely, and data minimisation should be observed.  Every day, schools manage vast amounts of personal and sensitive data which cannot be overlooked when using AI tools.  Staff should be provided with the right tools and training to maximise the benefits of AI whilst also addressing its challenges.

The Ofsted framework reforms promise a new era for inclusion in schools with greater accountability for SEND provision, better recognition of inclusive practices and stronger frameworks for advocating for the needs of all learners.  In the future, schools should be able to fully demonstrate how they adapt teaching and learning to support the breadth and diversity of need in their setting and the role of technology/AI within this.  So, in terms of solving the SEND puzzle, whilst AI technology is no substitute for the human touch, it can serve as a powerful ally in achieving the shared goal of inclusive and high-quality education for all if its true power is harnessed effectively.