Let’s rename bullying for what it is: abuse
It’s Anti-Bullying Week 2021 and here we are with a new theme to try to stamp out bullying. The chosen theme this year is ‘One Kind Word’ One Kind Word …
Category: Columnists
Heidi’s Down’s syndrome abortion case: It’s complicated
with input from Colette Lloyd Why have we called this article, “it’s complicated’? Because it is completely understandable that a great many women do not want any further restrictions on …
EOTAS: Education Otherwise Than At School. What is it, and can I get it?
with Nicole Lee, solicitor, SEN Legal Today’s article is from my colleague, Nicole Lee, a solicitor at SEN Legal who is an expert on Education Otherwise Than At School as …
New Budget funds for SEND capital spending. But how did LAs spend previous cash? We checked…
This post contains original research. If you would like to use this, please get in touch. Yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced his autumn Budget. He also introduced the …
My experience with EMDR as an autistic young person
After a prolonged blogging dry spell brought on by the torture of lockdown, I am back in business with my writing. This time around I will recount what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing) has done for me. What is …
Mr Zahawi: Publish the SEND Review—but make sure it solves the RIGHT problem
A government reshuffle: it’s as good as anything else for a temporary distraction. There’s always the hope it might result in a minister who really knows and cares about the …
Exploring the “subtle spectrum” of autistic discovery
What is The Subtle Spectrum of autism? People looking for the genetic roots of autism have identified around a hundred genes linked to being autistic. The combination of these genes …
The SEND Tribunal single appeal route works. DfE must give families certainty it’s here to stay
Tribunal’s powers to make recommendations on health and social care ‘to continue’ – but why has it not been made ‘permanent’? The national trial of extended powers for the SEND Tribunal to hear …
Will the Judicial Review Bill torpedo SEND claims or is it damp squib?
With Eduardo Reyes, Features Editor, The Law Society Gazette Judicial review is the process of asking a court to look at the decision of a public body – such as …
Is the DfE’s SEND funding “safety valve” on a collision course with schools and families?
It’s a strange time out there, and it’s a strange time in the world of SEND too. Some sort of big change is on its way in England — via …
Pupils in special settings suffered significant effects of the pandemic but the “Recovery Plan” won’t help them
Throughout the pandemic, we have been monitoring what has been happening with special schools and colleges and the pupils who attend them. Our previous research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, …
Minister admits legal entitlements for children with SEND are “up for review”
The Children’s Minister, Vicky Ford MP, has admitted that existing legal entitlements for children and young people with SEND are under review, as part of the ongoing and long-awaited SEND …
An open letter to James Sunderland MP, offering an educational primer in SEND
During a debate in the House of Commons earlier this month on children and young people’s mental health, James Sunderland, Conservative MP for Bracknell, made a speech about school exclusion and children …
SEND in schools 2021: Waiting for the other shoe to drop?
Yesterday, the Department for Education (DfE) published its annual set of statistics on special educational needs in England. If you want to dive into the data yourself, you can find …
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 …
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 …
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, …