Join the SNJ Squad as a “Patron” and get exclusive content!
Running SNJ takes time and money. As volunteers, we don’t mind spending time making the site as useful as possible, but we need your help to keep it online. We …
£300 million for SEND school places. But how does it improve inclusion and equality?
At the end of yesterday’s Treasury spending review document, the catchily entitled “SR20”, Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said it, “ensured that the decisions made considered the possible impact on people with a …
How is Ofsted supporting & evaluating SEND provision during the pandemic?
The education fo children with SEND (or lack of it) during the pandemic has been on our minds all year. How can we make schools and LAs accountable for ensuring …
We need more awareness that pandemic life is far from an equal experience
“It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it”… the Star Trek (mis)quote sums up 2020 for most people. Even if your family has escaped a serious coronavirus infection or, …
UK Disability History Month – How far have we still got to go?
With Richard Rieser – Coordinator of UK Disability History Month Some of us will be old enough to remember when hundreds of disabled people took to the streets in the …
How do you develop a meaningful pathway to employment for young people with SEND?
With Roseanna Gooder – Lead for 16-19 Pathway, Work Related and Vocational Learning at Swiss Cottage School, Development and Research Centre When specialist leader in education, Roseanna Gooder, approached us …
Ofsted: Disabled children “seriously affected in both care and education” during pandemic
Ofsted’s second report looking at how the pandemic has impacted children’s education and wellbeing has added more weight to existing evidence showing huge disparities in the experience of children during …
Coronavirus Lockdown 2.0: What does it mean for disabled children?
Welcome to Coronavirus Lockdown 2.0. I don’t know about you, but 2020 has seemed like a nightmare you can’t quite wake up from. Just when you think you have, you’re …
Ambitious and inclusive sensory story-telling
About a decade ago an impossible dream of mine came true. Special Needs Jungle was a part of that happening, but where that dream began is hard to pin point. …
Missing the mark: Anxiety and avoidance, illustrated.
with Eliza Fricker, SEND parent and illustrator Twitter, eh? Sometimes it makes you grind your teeth, or it can offer a spark of wisdom. Or in the case of today’s …
SNJ in Conversation: Teaching Assistants, their role and how schools can use them effectively
For children with special educational needs, a skilled teaching assistant can be the difference between them being able to progress in school or not. They’re vital for teachers supporting children …
More than one in three disabled pupils experience bullying in mainstream school, plus other concerning SEND stats
I’ve had a peruse through a new publication from the Department for Education, about the experiences of pupils and their parents regarding various aspects of school. It’s based on survey …
Joining the dots of neurodiversity with Suzy Rowland *Book Giveaway
We haven’t done a book giveaway for a while, so today we’re offering a copy of SEND parent, Suzy Rowland’s new book “SEND in the Clowns”. Suzy is the founder …
SNJ in Conversation: SEND law now and EOTAS, Part Two
Today we’re releasing the second part of the really informative episode of SNJ in Conversation with SEND lawyers, Hayley Mason and Nicole Lee. They’re discussing the state of SEND law …
SEND Law right now. And why you mustn’t confuse EOTAS with home education
What’s the difference between Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) and Home Education? If you’re thinking about educating your child yourself then this is a definition you need to know. …
Family Fund grants: the who, what and how to apply
with Jim Paterson, The Family Fund Earlier in the year, the government announced it was giving an additional £10 million to the Family Fund during the pandemic, to families who …
The dyslexia ‘battle’ and middle-class mums? I think we need to look at the broader picture
with Alison Vaughan, teacher and SEND parent Last week, The Guardian ran a long feature by Sirin Kale, called “The battle over dyslexia”. An interesting read, especially as I wasn’t …
Why I’m using my new global United Nations role to promote neurodiversity and the importance of equality
Tania’s note: At SNJ, we want to pass on our huge congratulations to Siena for being selected for this incredible, exciting, global United Nations opportunity. Siena is an amazing young …
SURVEY: Does your child have all their SEND provision back? What’s your family’s experience been this term?
Government guidance for the autumn school and college term 2020 is “everyone in”. Only, that’s not the reality for many children and young people with SEND. As we’ve already covered …
Coronavirus guidance: What mainstream settings should do to ensure the inclusion of disabled children
with Lorraine Petersen OBE, Educational Consultant Trying to keep up with the government’s latest coronavirus education guidance can seem like a full-time occupation. There is guidance for schools for re-opening …
Introducing Oak National Academy’s new online specialist curriculum
It’s been an academic year like no other, but I think we can all agree that teachers and families have done an exceptional job supporting children during school closures. With …