SEN | Schools Week

Home education among pupils with EHC plans up by a quarter in one year

The number of children with education, health and care plans being educated at home has risen by almost a quarter in just one year. Data published by the Department for Education today shows that 3,660 pupils with EHC plans were in elective home education as of January this year, up from 2,983 in January 2020. […]

Proportion of pupils with SEND continues to rise, and 4 more findings

Government statistics today have revealed the proportion of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has risen for a third consecutive year. The data shows that, as of January, there were 1,318,300 pupils with SEND in England, representing 14.9 per cent of the total pupil population. Here’s five key findings from the stats. 1. Number […]

Revealed: The winners of the Nasen Awards 2018

Twelve individuals, schools, and organisations have received awards from National Association for Special Educational Needs (Nasen) as recognition of their work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The evening was hosted by celebrity guest Vanessa Feltz on October 19 at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel, London, and saw nearly 200 guests come […]

Special Educational Needs: Five findings from the latest statistics

This morning the government has published the latest statistics on pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and the provision they receive in schools. Schools Week rounded up the main findings. 1. More pupils with SEN The proportion of pupils with special educational needs has risen for the second consecutive year, after a period of […]

Thousands of children without EHCPs by government deadline

Almost 4,000 children with now-defunct statements of special educational needs were still waiting to transfer to the new education, health and care plans (EHCPs) system after the April 1 deadline, the government has admitted. Data collected in early April but only released today shows that although 232,352 pupils, 98.4 per cent of those who previously had […]

How should progress be measured in a special school?

Special schools aren’t just a watered-down version of mainstream schools, and require progress measures that provide meaningful information for students, parents and the government, argues Sabrina Hobbs As many mainstream schools are still finding their way through life beyond levels, special schools are dealing with a similar scenario of their own. Our old system of […]

Newham expands special needs provision

Five new or expanded centres attached to mainstream schools will be created for pupils with special educational needs in Newham, east London, as part of a multi-million pound grant from the government. The new provision will provide an extra 100 places focused on speech, language and communication needs, including autism. The first are expected to […]

Sue Jay, Head of creative arts, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School

Rain is lashing down outside the drama studio at the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School, but inside there’s a cast of storm troopers, a school-uniformed Princess Leia, and Darth Vader (holding a fluffy unicorn), all prepping for Rock Challenge, a fiercely competitive annual dance contest featuring more than 330 schools. Sue Jay, the school’s […]

Special-school closure will leave pupils with 45-mile commute

Staff and pupils from a special school in Cambridgeshire will have to travel 45 miles to a new location if plans to close their current site are approved. The TBAP multi-academy trust wants to close the Unity Academy – Fenland in Wisbech, which has just 24 pupils, and transfer them to another site it owns […]