All Change: Back to school news with the new draft SEN bill

Back to school for most children this week, except for my kids, whose school finally returns next Tuesday. I'd better check over their uniforms this weekend and get the shoe polish out!

Big news in the SEN world this week with the draft SEN bill being published, swiftly followed by the exit from the DfE of Sarah Teather. The bill will be scrutinised by the Education Select Committee and the DfE says, will be updated as results from the pathfinders come through, whenever that may be. Over the coming weeks, views will be sought on the draft bill.

Pathfinder trials are getting underway and it's clear there is a lot of work to be done, not only in the trials but in the eventual writing of a new Code of Practice and for all local authorities in updating their SEN publications. If you're a pathfinder family, I'd be interested in hearing from you about your experiences, wherever you are.

• Special Needs Jungle: The draft SEN reform bill – some reactions on Special Needs Jungle
• DysNet: Keep Paralympic Fever going for the LimbPower Junior Games At Stoke Mandeville! 
  
• The Independent: Schools behaving badly
• Disability Scoop: Teens With Disabilities Face High Rates Of Bullying - 
  
• Special Needs Jungle:Draft SEN legislation published and a response to my open letter to Sarah Teather
• Chill4Us carers: Paralympians express fears over disability living allowance plans 
• Nasen:  Nasen response to the draft legislation on reform of provision for children with Special Educational Needs
• Global Accessibility News: Gaming Accessibility Guidelines published for people with disabilities
• Disabled World: iPod Touch Helps Adults with Autism in the Workplace 
• NAS: Education update: New draft SEN legislation published
• Special Needs Jungle: Draft SEN legislation published and a response to my open letter to Sarah Teather 
• Life with Katie: Our Adoption Story: Dear Mr Cameron. ow.ly/dqcgS Gem's open letter to the PM
• Emma4Facs: Thalidomide A Sorry 50 years later
• Medical News Today: A Method Designed For Detecting Certain Neurological Disorders such as ADHD Through The Study Of Eye Movements
• DownSideUp: See Hayley's gorgeous girl: The face of Disability Represented in Marketing Catalogues
• CarerWatch: Pat’s Petition – Urgent Call for Action to Save Disability Benefits and Services
• DysNet: International Limb Difference organisation offers cautious welcome to Grunenthal Thalidomide apology
• Life with an Autistic Son: The Silent Casualty

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Tania Tirraoro

Founder, Co-Director at Special Needs Jungle

Founder of Special Needs Jungle. (She/Her) Parent of two young adults with autism. New grandma. Tania, who is autistic, is a leading SEND advisor, working with the Special Education Consortium, Ofsted, and Whole School SEND. She is also an Advisory Board member of the Royal Holloway, University of London Centre of Gene and Cell Therapy and an Editorial Board member of Springer Nature Gene Therapy journal.
Tania is an experienced broadcast and print journalist & author. She also runs a PR, web & social media consultancy, SocialOro Media.
Tania is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.

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Latest posts by Tania Tirraoro (see all)

• Ombudsman report says councils are “standing in the way of support” by failing to offer personal budgets during the EHCP process - November 24, 2023
• 10 reasons the Change Programme might fail, by experts from across the SEND sector - October 27, 2023
• For children with SEND and their parents, a compassionate teacher is key - October 20, 2023