SEND | Schools Week

Access arrangements for SEND pupils ‘too strict and confusing’, say exam officers

Schools find exam access arrangements increasingly strict and confusing, according to the body that represents exams officers. Many schools want “much clearer” guidance on access, as well as special consideration for pupils with additional needs, according to research by the International Examination Officers’ Association. Some officers have even warned that extra help may be being […]

Headteacher boards swerve post-16 and SEND despite DfE promises

The headteacher boards have been ignoring post-16 and SEND experts in their decisions on academisation – even though the government promised they would be included. The Department for Education said the boards, which advise the regional schools commissioners on rebrokering and academy conversion, would seek “specific advice” from post-16 and special needs experts, but Schools […]

SEND experts demand review of high-needs funding rules

New funding rules will create a “perverse incentive” for schools to “over-identify” pupils as having special educational needs and disabilities, a policy expert has warned. Brian Gale (pictured), the director of policy and campaigns at the National Deaf Children’s Society and a former council pupil support director, fears a rule-change due in 2019 will see […]

5 things to celebrate about special educational needs provision in 2017

We all know that special educational needs provision is nowhere near where we need it to be, but that’s not to say there haven’t been moments to celebrate, writes Adam Boddison It would be easy to write a review of SEND (special educational needs and/or disabilities) in 2017 by listing all of the challenges we […]

Pupils on ‘SEN support’ fare worse than pupils with EHCPs

Pupils with special needs have better outcomes if they have an education health and care plan (EHCP) or statement – but those without statements or plans are being let down, Ofsted has warned. Children categorised as needing “SEN support” are more likely to have their needs overlooked, be excluded, and achieve less well than those […]

Improve teacher education to help SEND pupils, research says

Teacher education must “urgently” be upgraded to improve learning for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), new research from the University of Cambridge has found. The report, Inclusive quality education for children with disabilities, found teachers commonly admitted to a “lack of preparation” when it comes to dealing with the range of needs in […]

65% of special free schools are for autism

Autism-specific free schools are continuing to dominate new special free school approvals, with more than half of those in the pipeline having it as a focus. However, SEND experts are openly asking whether this one area of need is receiving too much attention. “We need to know what analysis has been done to show 65 […]

Headteacher outcry after £7m SEND pot assigned to academy expansion

A group of headteachers have written to their council, challenging its proposal to spend almost £30 million on expanding two schools, claiming it’s an “unjustifiable” amount to take from special needs funding. Twelve headteachers in Newham, a borough in east London, are dismayed that they were not consulted on council proposals to expand two academies […]

Entering SEND pupils to pre-key stage standards ‘too subjective’

New rules covering the way special needs pupils are assessed will mean some schools “play it safe” by not teaching children English and maths while other schools do, experts have warned. The government has responded to the Rochford Review, accepting its recommendations to replace the old P-levels, which are currently used to assess SEND pupils […]