Join the SNJ Squad as a “Patron” and get exclusive content!
We have a brilliant new offering to tell you about – one that gets you exclusive content! We’ve linked up with a service called Patreon, as we mentioned in passing …
Exemplary Practice: Creating a positive future of meaningful work for young people with SEND
with Matt Silver, Head Teacher, Shaftesbury High School, Harrow Recently I put out a call for positive stories of great practice in education, health and social care that we could …
Ofsted finds home education is most often not a choice – and off-rolling is a key culprit
More evidence that inclusion isn’t working has come from Ofsted, which has published research to show home education is often a last resort for families, rather than a lifestyle choice, …
The DfE wants to stop LAs filling SEND funding gaps
with Gillian Doherty, SEND Action Last week, the High Court found against campaign group, SEND Action in their judicial review into SEND funding against the Government. You can read about …
#WMHD: Preventing suicide in young people
‘You will be too much for some people – Those aren’t your people’ Meme It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay 2019 and the focus this year is Suicide Prevention. Suicide devastates families and the …
A setback at the High Court, but parents’ SEND Action goes on
Today on SNJ we want to pay tribute to the SEND Action parent campaigners who took the Government to the High Court in a judicial review over SEND funding. Ultimately, …
Disabled children “increasingly failed” as nearly 9 in 10 EHCP Ombudsman complaints upheld
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, says 87%, or 9 in 10, of complaints about the Education, Health and Care plan process are found in favour of parents, describing …
It’s back! Put your burning questions about SEND to the Department for Education
It’s back! Once again we are giving you the chance to ask the Department for Education the questions you want to know answers for about special educational needs and disability. …
Jenna’s 10, has missed two years of school, and is campaigning for SEND inclusion
I’d like to introduce you today to 10-year-old Jenna, who has anxiety and ADHD and has missed two years of school. She is still waiting for her council to find …
Public Accounts Committee launches SEND Inquiry (yes another one)
Another day, another SEND inquiry. It seems that inquiries into SEND are like buses. None for ages then three come along at once. As soon as MPs were back in …
We won a legal point on unlawful exclusion and cleared my disabled son’s name
Adoptive parents expect their new child may deal with issues such as attachment, after living through prior traumatic circumstances, both pre and post-birth. It’s also not unusual for adopted children …
Are Access Arrangements given unfairly? Three reasons why we need a review of the system
Access Arrangements are a way to level the playing field in exams when someone has a disability or special educational need. Common support mechanisms are extra time or a reader, …
A free SEND legal advice clinic to guide you through the jungle
When you find yourself at the start – or even stuck in the middle – of trying to secure the support your child with special educational needs requires, it can …
I chose mental health over a prestigious Sixth-Form, that refused to recognise my autism
A lesson I recently learned is that sometimes admitting defeat is the best decision you can make. This time last year, I was elated about starting at a state sixth-form …
SEND audited: Is the system affordable? What’s the alternative?
with contributions from Matt Keer, SNJ Columnist Just last week, Matt mentioned the upcoming report from the National Audit Office (NAO). And lo, this week, here it is. As expected, …
SEND Review: A game-changer or playing politics with vulnerable children?
While the biggest political and constitutional crisis that anyone can remember rages all around us, ministers resign, MPs are purged and no-one is quite sure who will be in Government …
The Government must act on legal ruling against discrimination of disabled children
With Jane Harris, Director of External Affairs at National Autistic Society Last year we covered a landmark legal ruling that was supposed to mean thousands of children with disabilities would …
What does ‘£700 million for SEND’ actually mean in reality?
4.55pm on a Friday doesn’t normally mean good news for SEND parents. It’s often a time when bad news pitches up in your email inbox from LAs, health teams or …
Will the SEND Inquiry report be drowned in the maelstrom of Brexit? UPDATED
I wrote this post yesterday in the wake of the leak of Government schools funding. This evening, Boris Johnson has made the announcement official – more than was expected for …
Navigating adult mental health services as an autistic young person
I go by the name of Philip Milburn but you are welcome to call me Phil, I’ve spent some of my time interacting with the adult mental health service and …
SEND Transport: Consultation and Missed opportunities
You may have seen recently that the government launched a consultation into revised statutory guidance for local authorities on home to school travel and transport. This covers all children, but we’re …
