SEN 21

SEN 21 refers to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (often abbreviated as the SENDA 2001), specifically as it applies within the context of education in England and Wales. This act amended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) to extend disability rights to education. Prior to the SENDA 2001, the DDA had limited application to education providers.

The SEN 21 act placed duties on schools, colleges, and other educational settings to:

• Not discriminate against disabled pupils or students. This covered areas like admissions, exclusions, and the provision of education.

• Make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled pupils and students were not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled peers. These adjustments could include providing auxiliary aids, modifying policies, and adapting the physical environment.

• Plan strategically to increase the accessibility of education for disabled students over time.

The act was a significant step forward in promoting inclusive education and ensuring that disabled students had the opportunity to participate fully in the education system. It was later superseded by the Equality Act 2010, which consolidated and strengthened existing equality legislation, including disability discrimination law. While SEN 21 is no longer the active legislation, it represents an important milestone in the development of disability rights in education in the UK. Its principles and core obligations continue to be reflected in the Equality Act 2010.