The Special Needs Code of Practice: antecedents and outcomes

The aims are, firstly, to explore the origins of the Code of Practice for special educational needs (SEN) and the establishment of the appeals Tribunal and, secondly, to assess the likely impact of each. The concept of quasi‐market is introduced as the general background to developments in education. The origins of the Code are posited ultimately in the Warnock Report's recommendations and subsequently in the recorded trends in SEN following the Education Act, 1981. The origins of the Tribunal are also located in these latter and in particular the difficulties surrounding the increased volume of litigation and appeals. There concludes a prediction of little change for SEN from the introduction of the Code but an increased activity for the Tribunal.