SEND | Schools Week

Ofsted could do more to reward schools for being inclusive

Amanda Spielman can make Ofsted a force for good by ensuring that in the new framework, no school can be outstanding unless they can also demonstrate they are inclusive, says Adam Boddison This morning, Ofsted published their annual report and it was good to see consideration given to learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities. […]

Investigation: SEND funding crisis pits parents and schools against councils

Council bosses say pressure on their SEND budgets leaves them at risk of not being able to deliver core services – which would result in the government imposing emergency spending controls. Dave Hill, executive director of children, families and learning at Surrey County Council, this week told the education select committee that councils have been […]

Don’t neglect curriculum content for pupils with severe learning difficulties

We must protect curriculum content if pupils with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties are to be included in the broad and balanced education they are entitled to, counsels Dr Deborah Robinson Yesterday, the Department for Education published an evaluation of the seven aspects of engagement assessment and announced its plans for a new […]

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 […]

Who were the winners of The Careers & Enterprise Company Annual Awards 2018?

This week the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) celebrated the work of schools, colleges, businesses, and careers professionals with its annual awards ceremony for 2018. Over 200 nominations were accepted for the nine categories and the winners were chosen by panel of independent expert judges. “Across the country schools and colleges are making progress towards world class […]

Schools have ‘strong legal case to make councils fully fund SEND provision’

Schools are forking out millions of pounds for special educational needs provision even though there is often a strong legal case for obliging their local authority to fully fund it. The majority of councils provide schools with up to £6,000 of funding for pupils who have a special education need. The cost of delivering all […]

Hinds challenged over ‘dangerously inadequate’ SEND funding

A coalition of trade unions and 39 local authorities have written to the education secretary to warn of “dangerously inadequate funding” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The School Cuts Coalition was first formed in November 2016 and now includes NEU, NAHT, ASCL, Unison, GMB and Unite. In a letter to Damian Hinds, the […]

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” and hope more mainstream teachers will attend their next event. Barney Angliss, a SEND consultant, has spent two years planning FestABLE, which took place in Cheltenham last weekend. He had the help of Elaine Gisby, director […]

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 with guaranteed funding. Some local authorities are giving out documents called ‘my plans’ or ‘learning plans’ if they believe pupil’s needs do not warrant a proper education health and care plan (ECHP), SEND experts have warned. […]