SNJ in Conversation: Oak Academy’s improving SEND offer
One of the few positives of the pandemic and lockdown, was the creation of the Oak Academy resource, an online suite of lessons created by a group of volunteer teachers. …
Category: Coronavirus
Coronavirus and SEND Education: 75% of schools ignored Government risk assessment guidance during the lockdown
During most of June 2020, Special Needs Jungle offered a survey of to our readers, to ask them about some of the aspects of support their children with special educational …
Identifying SEND in the Early Years: Partnership and collaboration is key
with Dr Helen Curran senior lecturer in SEN at Bath Spa University, The earlier a special educational need is identified in a child, the better their chances are of achieving …
SEND in schools 2019-2020: It’s just so depressing
The school census figures for SEND have just been published for 2019-2020. Before we get to that, I want to draw your attention to the new department for Education guidance …
SEND risk assessments and preparing for a return to school (or not)
*August update: EHCPs are now back in full force and all children are expected back in school in September. However, some schools are still using stringent risk assessments and updated …
SNJ Survey: Tell us about your disabled child’s education during Coronavirus
We’ve decided to create a quick survey to find out how families have been getting on while home educating and how the changes to EHCP duties and timescales have affected …
SNJ In Conversation: What legal rights do disabled children have left under the Coronavirus Act?
In Conversation with Steve Broach, public law barrister We wouldn’t normally churn out another episode of In Conversation so quickly, as it’s quite a big undertaking to produce. But with …
Shots fired! Secretary of State in legal challenge over SEND Coronavirus changes
The relaxation to the duties on LAs to make the provision in EHCPs has left disabled children without the legal protection to ensure an adequate education. But a parent has taken the steps to challenge this.
Coronavirus: Managing risk to get our special school ready for reintegration
with Ian Thorsteinsson, Principal, Gretton School, Cambridge The Government has confirmed it is pressing ahead with its plans to reopen schools for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 cohorts from …
Dear Prime Minister, not all education in lockdown is equal
A letter to the PM from Lilia, a year 10 pupil who believes that not all education in lockdown is equal and it is time the government recognised the possible consequences for pupils taking important exams next year.
Coronavirus: Disabled children’s education rights must be restored now, before any formal return to school
This week Boris Johnston announced that schools may start reopening to certain year groups again from June 1st. Around 80% of schools have remained open to “vulnerable” groups (disabled children with …
It is a mistake to assume all vulnerable children are ‘at risk of harm’
Coronavirus has divided Britain into those who are vulnerable and those who are not. But vulnerable means different things to different groups of people, and it’s important to still differentiate between vulnerable because of need and vulnerable because of risk, especially when talking about children with SEND
What’s wrong with Oak Academy’s specialist curriculum?
with Karen Wespieser, curriculum lead for specialist content at Oak Academy A couple of weeks ago a group of volunteer teachers, backed by the Department for Education, launched an online …
Coronavirus: EHCP laws temporarily “relaxed” as LAs told to just do their best
and SEN Lawyer, Hayley Mason, SNJ Legal Columnist The Government yesterday announced temporary amendments to the SEND regulations around legal duties and timescales for Education, Health and Care Plans. They …
How is the coronavirus lockdown affecting the mental health of children with SEND?
With so many children with SEND finding school an anxiety-inducing experience, has home learning during the coronavirus lockdown helped, or exacerbated the state of their mental health? Families will also …
Coronavirus: Sensory resources for children with SEND
We are living through strange times; big things are happening to small people. I have a five-year-old son and I am six months pregnant. My pregnancy counts as ‘high risk’, …
SEND with Daulby: Keeping it loose for home learning
As I write this about being relaxed while home learning, I am aware of the irony that yesterday I screamed at my 14-year-old daughter that she was ruining her education …
Coronavirus Lockdown with kids: Setting a steady pace for home learning
with Lisa Thomas, Angela Kelly and Marguerite Haye In the previous post, we discussed meeting the challenges of home learning. In this article, we’re going to look at what we …
Why learning in isolation doesn’t have to be an isolating learning experience.
from Lisa Thomas, Angela Kelly and Marguerite Haye So, how was your first week of home teaching and learning? Despite the Government allowing “vulnerable” children and those of key workers …
Coronavirus and SEND law: Part 4 What does my child’s EHCP still provide?
This is the last group of The the 200+ questions we received. These answers will be the most important for the next weeks or months ahead. What does your child’s …