Reflections on special educational needs support for Armed Forces children: Towards communities of practice perspectives
Posted in News
A newly published academic article by University of Winchester researchers Michael Hall and Julie Wharton highlights an urgent need to reform how special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support is managed for highly mobile military families.
The article draws from the evaluation of the first two years of the Garrison ASSIST (Assessment, Support & School Inclusivity in SEND Teaching) Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening educational stability for highly mobile military families. The project was funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, as part of the Service Pupil Support Programme.
The article argues that frequent military relocations continuously fracture educational stability, causing vulnerable children to face disruptive administration and delayed assessments when crossing regional borders. To bridge these systemic gaps, they champion a "Communities of Practice" framework—an interconnected network uniting school Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos), military liaison officers, and families to ensure that tailored support actively follows the child.
The research has been published in Educational Futures and is available to read here: https://educationstudies.org.uk/journal/ef/volume-17-1-july-2026/reflections-on-special-educational-needs-support-for-armed-forces-children-towards-a-communities-of-practice-perspective/ef-17-1-08-hall/
Watch the GAP Assist ‘Living in our SEND Shoes’ – Animated Films here
