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 …
What’s next for Ofsted/CQC SEND Inspections? And is accountability about to nosedive?
Last week, Ofsted published a report on the experiences of children and young people with SEND during the pandemic. The report is well worth a read – but it’s long, and if …
Children’s Social Care Review: Are disabled children ‘someone else’s’ problem?
“It’s not the despair. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand.” This line from the film ‘Clockwise’ regularly runs through my mind when contemplating government reviews …
Ofsted / CQC: SEND was bad before the pandemic, it’s worse now
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have published a joint report after a series of interim “listening and learning” visits to schools during autumn 2020 and Spring 2021. (Note: This …
LA fails disabled young man repeatedly over a decade. Are stronger deterrents needed?
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is this week issuing two separate reports into the way the London Borough of Redbridge has failed the family of a 20-year-old disabled …
Why there needs to be a moratorium on school exclusion
SNJ Note: It’s important to understand views that don’t necessarily align with your own. If you disagree with the views in this post please do comment on the blog post …
How to help our children: 10 top tips from parents for SEND Case Officers
Recently, I wrote an article based on positive things schools/teachers had done to help your child, based on parental contributions on our Facebook group, SNJ, let’s Talk about SEND. I …
Free course: Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in children with mental health difficulties
With Melanie Cross, Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists One of the most common elements of additional needs is speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). If a child also …
Whole School SEND Spotlight: Developmental Language Disorder Guide
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) can, and do, have a lifelong impact, particularly when not recognised and supported. Effective communication is crucial for educational outcomes, social experiences, self-confidence and …
Will the DfE learn lessons about supporting disabled learners before the next big crisis?
What would your concerns be if a teacher commented that a pupil was unprepared, failed to assess past actions, and was, “surprisingly resistant to learning lessons from failures”? Would you …
Exemplary Practice: How a Circle of Friends and other easy adjustments change lives for disabled children
On SNJ, we aim to highlight injustice and call out unlawful behaviour. But among the doom, there is also a lot of amazing practice going on in schools, actively supporting …
Therapy resources for families of children with additional needs
I often get asked lots of questions by parents looking for support for their children. Naturally, parents are keen to find out who I am and what I can do …
Emotional Wellbeing in Parent Carers – Day by Day book giveaway
As a parent carer looking after our own emotional wellbeing can be a challenge at the best of times, this is why Joanna Griffin, parent carer and counselling psychologist has written Day by Day.
15,000 disabled learners with EHCPs but no provision: The EHCP figures for 2021
It seems like an ice age since the last time we this rather than just a year – but yesterday, the Department for Education published their annual statistical summary of Education, …
Ofsted asks: How well do mainstream schools support SEND?
with Matt Keer Ofsted has published a new piece of research entitled “Supporting SEND”. It’s a limited, qualitative piece of work and was conducted before the pandemic. While this means the …
Is Excluded being Expelled? The DfE is sneaking in outdated language, hoping it’ll catch on
Read the background to this in our article… I recently noticed that the Department for Education has had a curious change in terminology. DfE missives have referred to school Expulsions …
The inequalities in Post-16 education and work for young disabled people
By Stella Chatzitheochari (University of Warwick) & Sanne Velthuis (University of Warwick & University of Manchester) Official figures reveal that disabled young people lag behind in GCSE attainment. Yet, we …
Let’s MOVE! Supporting disabled children to get their movement skills back on track
with Charlotte Peck of Enham Trust and Move Europe During the pandemic, thousands of disabled children and young people who rely on therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and hydrotherapy …
10 top tips to boost Working Memory in children
Tania’s note: You may remember Alison’s first post on dyslexia here. We’re very pleased she’s agreed to write more for us. Have you ever climbed a mountain with a group …
Coping with uncertainty: Supporting teens who “learn differently”*
With Clare Ward, Speech and Language Therapist/ CBT Practitioner, and James Galpin, Developmental Psychologist *This post is in partnership with Jessica Kingsley Publishing Uncertainty is something we have all had …
Whole School SEND Spotlight: The Autism Resource Suite
Autism is one of the most commonly identified needs in England, with more than 82,000 school-age children with an Education, Health and Care Plan for ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder’, representing 30% …
