News

Inaugural FestABLE becomes a celebration of SEND

Founders of the first ever festival celebrating special educational want to “bring teachers and families into the same space”...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

Beware informal ‘learning plans’, SEND experts warn

Pupils with special educational needs are being issued with informal learning plans in place of official plans that come...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
Features

Sabrina Hobbs, principal, Severndale specialist academy

A nine-year-old boy in a wheelchair is delightedly pressing the large button on a battery-powered speaker that calls Betsy the...

Schools Week Reporter
Schools Week Reporter
Opinion

Extracurricular doesn’t count as ‘broad and balanced’

There have been two recent government announcements on funding for arts activities in schools. But their extracurricular nature leaves...

Anita Kerwin-Nye
Anita Kerwin-Nye
News

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,...

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
Opinion

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...

Expert Contributor
Expert Contributor
News

Which local authorities got flexibility on high needs funding?

In a move allowing certain local authorities greater control over special-needs funding, the education secretary has lavished Conservative-run councils...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

Newham expands special needs provision

Five new or expanded centres attached to mainstream schools will be created for pupils with special educational needs in...

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
Features

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...

Laura McInerney
Laura McInerney