The EPSEN Act 2004

The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act (2004) was a landmark piece of legislation that redefined SEN to encompass any condition affecting a person's learning and firmly advocated for inclusive education. The Act states that children with SEN should be educated in inclusive environments alongside their mainstream peers, unless this is inconsistent with the best interests of the child or their typically developing peers. The EPSEN Act also established the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as an independent statutory body and introduced the concept of individual education plans (IEPs). However, key provisions of the Act have never been fully implemented.