How to Help Me Learn and Thrive Report
Only 28% of disabled young people feel they have the right support at school or college, according to our new report with the Disabled Children’s Partnership. Co-produced with young people across England, the report calls for urgent change to create a more inclusive SEND system.
Published: 12 May 2026
Our How To Help Me Learn And Thrive Report, co-produced with the Disabled Children’s Partnership and young disabled people across England, reveals a clear and concerning picture: only 28% of disabled young people feel they currently have the right support at school or college.
The report is based on a survey of 520 young people aged 11–25, with a wide range of needs and education placements. It was shaped in partnership with young people at every stage, from designing the survey to developing the recommendations.
Key findings
The message is clear: too many disabled young people are being let down by a system that isn’t meeting their needs.
- 28% of disabled young people feel they have the right support at their school or college.
- 41% attend a school or college with staff trained in meeting their needs.
- 25% has access to specially-trained staff such as occupational therapists.
- 30% of disabled young people feel part of the community at their school or college.
- 30% say they have the right number of friends they would like at school or college.
- 25% have support to access clubs or activities in school.
- 19% have the support to access after or before-school clubs or activities.
What young people said about their education experience
Young people also shared powerful testimonies about the impact of these gaps on their daily lives, including loneliness, exclusion and missed opportunities to build friendships.
“I am very lonely. I haven’t had a friend since I was 12 and have just turned 20. I’ve missed all my teenage years.”
“However often l explain that the ‘help’ l am given is NOT the help l need, they ignore it. They have one way of teaching and l must fit into that.”
“I need people who know my needs and are trained to help with medical needs.”
Why this matters
We know that the right support doesn’t just help with learning, it shapes confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging. Yet too many disabled young people are telling us they feel overlooked, unsupported and unable to fully take part in school life.
Inclusion is not just about being present in a classroom. It’s about feeling understood, supported and able to take part in a way that works for you.
What needs to change
When asked what would improve their education, young people were clear about what would make a difference:
- More one-to-one support
- Smaller group sizes
- Staff trained in SEND and disability needs
- Better access to assistive technology
- Regular support from key workers or pastoral staff
- Improved access to clubs, activities and social opportunities
- Greater flexibility in how learning is delivered
More than two thirds (68%) identified one-to-one support as a priority, highlighting the importance of personalised provision.
Calling for meaningful reform
Together with the Disabled Children’s Partnership, we are calling on the Government to take urgent action to improve the SEND system.
This includes:
- Strengthening rights to support for all children and young people with SEND and ensure clearer accountability for the delivery of support they need
- Ensure inclusive nurseries, schools and colleges, which are set up for children with SEND, whilst recognising and protecting the place for special schools.
- Updating behaviour and attendance guidance – central to reducing exclusion and shaping school or college culture – that is co-developed with the SEND sector.
- Investment to fundamentally change the culture around supporting children and young people, both within the SEND system and across society as a whole.
- Ensuring young people are meaningfully included in every decision about their support.
Katie Ghose, our CEO and Vice Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, says:
“This report exposes how deeply young people feel the SEND system has failed to grant them the ordinary expectations of an education and a chance to make friends. The Government must listen to these students’ strong recommendations on what will work to increase their chances of learning and thriving and reduce barriers to their aspirations.”
A crucial opportunity for change
With SEND reforms currently under consultation, this is a vital moment to take action.
At Kids, we will continue to stand alongside disabled children and young people, and their families, to make sure every child has the opportunity to play, learn, grow, and thrive.