Guidance tried to make SEN identification and support more consistent.
The first SEN Code of Practice followed the early 1990s reforms and gave guidance to schools and local authorities about identifying, assessing and meeting special educational needs.
It matters because law alone is not enough. Schools and councils need practical guidance, but guidance must still be implemented properly.
Awareverse sees this as the gap between written process and lived support. A code can describe good practice while families still meet delay, denial or confusion.
A common mistake is treating guidance as action.
Who had power here, who was left outside, and what would have changed if the human being was seen first?
These deep dives open out from this part of the timeline.