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 …
Category: Columnists
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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% …
SEND judicial review and how LAs spin tales about “litigious” parents
Over the years, we’ve written a lot at SNJ about the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) First Tier Tribunal. We’ve written a lot less about another form of legal …
Who benefits from inclusive education – and how?
with Prof Brahm Norwich & Dr Peter Gray, SEN Policy Research Forum Who benefits from inclusive education? It is an enduring question that applies as much to children and young …
Why does Josh’s review seem to think disabled children are “Not Known to Social Care”?
From what I can see, the independent review of children’s social care doesn’t seem to be much interested in finding out about the experiences of disabled children and their families outside the …
SEND researchers identify key lessons for teaching children with special education needs in lockdown
We’ve just launched our new report (PDF link) with Nuffield (Amy Skipp, Vicky Hopwood & Rob Webster With Jenna Julius & Dawson McLean, NFER February 2021), on special education during …
If we truly want effective SENCOs, the government must act to make it possible
The Special Needs Jungle Coronavirus Survey sought the views and experiences of over a thousand parents and carers of children and young people with SEND between 3-30th June 2020. The National …
How to reclaim a positive mental attitude while parenting in a pandemic
Happy New Year (if it’s not too late to say that)… But it’s more like out of the frying pan into the fire in another national lockdown. This time, the …
Blockbusting: What’s Happened to the £780m in Extra SEND Funding?
In 2019, the Government announced the biggest increase in school funding in years – a three-year funding programme, pumping an extra £2.6bn into the schools budget in 2020, and pledging to increase …
95% of decisions in favour of parents, but nobody wins at the SEND Tribunal
2020 is a year that most of us will be glad to see the back of. But before we kiss it good riddance, here’s a quick look at some figures …
MPs call on the government to act quickly on home education register
The number of children – including children with SEND – who are home educated by their parents’ choice, has increased steadily over the last five years, and sharply over the …
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. …
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 …
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 …
Ofsted/CQC SEND inspectors dropping by soon, but in learning mode
It seems like a lifetime ago now – but there was a time when local SEND services were subjected to at least some external accountability. Ofsted & the Care Quality …
