Our research and reports are a vital part of our work, allowing us to gather data and insights through survey and analysis that drive our campaigns and policy positions.
Explore our recently published reports below:
How to Help Me Learn and Thrive | Published May 2026
This report is a collaboration between the Disabled Children’s Partnership and Kids and is based on research with 520 disabled children and young people aged 11–25. Through insights, stats and lived experience accounts, it shows how the SEND system is failing the young respondents — and what needs to change.
Read more | View the report | View the Easy Read version
Support Isn’t Optional: Why Every Child with SEND Needs a Legal Guarantee | Published February 2026
Commissioned and created by the DCP, this report is based on polling of 1480 parents and carers of disabled children and young people in England and reveals SEND families experiences and what they want from government.
Read more | View the report | View the Easy Read version
How to spend less and get better outcomes for children with speech and language challenges | Published autumn 2025
This report is a collaboration between the Disabled Children’s Partnership and Speech and Language UK. It considers the 800,000 children with lifelong speech and language challenges and shows that providing effective early support could be transformative.
View the report
Plans Matter. Findings of Parent Carer Focus Group about Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) | Published July 2025
This report brings together research, insights and analysis following a series of focus groups that the DCP facilitated in May 2025 with parent carers of disabled children and young people with EHCPs. The focus groups and subsequent report investigates their experience of securing an EHCP, the impact of the EHCP on their child, their achievements and their thoughts on how the system could be improved.
View the report
Record Breakers. Local Authority Short Breaks Data on Disabled Children and Young People | Published April 2025
Produced by the Disabled Children’s Partnership in collaboration with parent-researchers and through the collation of various data, this report explores if and how local authorities are meeting their duty under the Children’s Ace 1989 to commission or provide appropriate short break services for disabled children and their families.
View the report
Support not Suspicion: Social Care, Ethnicity, Disabled Children and Their Families | Published September 2024
Co-produced by parents and drawing on a comprehensive literature review and qualitative information gathered from interviews with parents and carers of young disabled people from these communities, the report identified a number of themes and issues faced by disabled children and families from black and Asian ethnic minority groups. The report was also supported by an animation produced in 2025.
Read more | View the report | View the Easy Read version | Watch the animation
What Childcare? Childcare Survey of Parents of Disabled Children | Published August 2024
Based on findings from a survey with over 900 parents of disabled children which we commissioned between February – April 2024, this report reveals the extent of the crisis of childcare places and appropriate provision for children with SEND.
View the report
This Is My Life – Hear Me, Help Me: our report from young people aged 11-25 | Published May 2024
Based on findings from a survey commissioned by the DCP which heard directly from disabled young people, this report reveals that inadequate support services in England are denying young people the right to a happy and fulfilling life and therefore threatening the future they deserve.
Find out more | View the report | View the Easy Read version
Wasting Money, Wasting Potential. The cost of SEND Tribunals | Published September 2023
Written by Dr Jansev Jemal and Anoushka Kenley on behalf of Pro Bono Economics for the Disabled Children’s Partnership, this report reveals the impact of an under resourced system underpinning the EHCP process which leads to lengthy, expensive and avoidable SEND Tribunals.
Find out more | View the report
The Loneliest Summer | Published July 2023
This report was collaboration between Contact and the Disabled Children’s Partnership and was based on a survey with around 1800 parents of disabled children and young people. The report reveals the lack of holiday club provision for children and young people with SEND and the impact this has on families, finances and quality of life.
View the report
Failed and Forgotten | Published March 2023
Based on findings from a survey commissioned by the DCP between October – November 2022 which heard from over 2000 parent carers who look after approximately 2900 disabled children and young people, this report exposed the extent of the failings across the SEND system and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on their lives and futures.
View the report