This page has information on the current policy, and the relevant frameworks and guidance relating to the Parenting Disabled Children & Young People Practice Guide.  

The Children’s Social Care National Framework

The Children’s Social Care National Framework was published in December 2023, alongside the updated ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ statutory guidance. It brings together in one place the purpose, principles and enablers of good practice in children’s social care, and the outcomes that should be achieved.  

It helps everyone supporting children, young people and families – including those with disabilities – to understand what is expected of their work. 

The SEND Code of Practice

This is statutory guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25.  

The SEND Code of Practice sets out that local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) must make joint commissioning arrangements for education, health, and care provision, informed by a clear assessment of local needs. This multi-agency collaboration ensures that there is a joined-up approach that prioritises identification, assessment and support. 

Agencies should read and respond to the National Framework, alongside the principles and outcomes set out in the SEND Code of Practice and the Parenting Disabled Children and Young People Practice Guide.  

The Law Commission – Disabled Children’s Social Care

The Law Commission is currently reviewing the legal framework governing social care for disabled children in England to ensure that the law is fair, modern and accessible, to allow disabled children  to access the support they need.  

Local authorities their partner agencies, and practitioners in social care and other children’s services continue to work within the existing legal framework. Following the conclusion of the Law Commission’s review, government may decide to take forward recommendations to update the legal framework governing disabled children’s social care.  

The Family First Partnership Programme (FFP)

This programme aims to transform the whole system of family help, support, and protection, to ensure that every family can access the right help and support when they need it, with a focus on early intervention and crisis prevention.   

The Family First Partnership programme guide acknowledges that the type of support that disabled children and their families may need is potentially different from the Family Help support for children who are not disabled and their families.
The Parenting Disabled Children and Young People Practice Guide should be used by local leaders alongside the FFP programme guide to support integration, and reform local approaches to delivering social care support for parent carers of disabled children and families.  

Spending Review 2025: Special educational needs and disabilities reform

At the Spending Review 2025 (11 June 2025) the government outlined that the details of their intended approach to SEND reform will be set out in a White Paper in the autumn, including for Early Years and Post-16 Education. The government will also set out further details on supporting local authorities as they transition to a reformed system as part of the upcoming local government funding reform consultation.