by Dr Charlie Bamford, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director Around 300,000 people in England currently have an open referral for suspected autism. During that time, children still need appropriate …
By Gosia Kwiatkowska, Director, Rix Inclusive Research Institute, University of East London For many families, one of the biggest questions after school is whether their young person will still have …
By Jonathan Beebee, Neurodisability Nurse Consultant Despite what many families are told, the SEND Code of Practice 2015 says a diagnosis isn’t needed to get support. It was intended to …
By Jon Paxman, Senior Research Associate at the Relationships Foundation (Cambridge) While the SEND reforms aim for stronger inclusion, most people still do not believe a one‑size‑fits‑all model of full‑time …
By Jacqui Brett, LLB (Law), BSc (OT), PG Cert Prof Dev (OT), PG Cert (SI), MRCOT, HCPC The Government’s new Experts at Hand programme sounds like exactly what families have …
By: An ADHD Mum For the last year, parents have been asked to participate in Department for Education SEND faux “conversations“, unsatisfactory webinars, and numerous impenetrable consultations that only the …
With Central Bedfordshire SEND Action Group As we continue to campaign against the Government’s plans to cut SEND rights, local authorities are waiting impatiently for the day when many of …
By Dr Lucy Robinson, Cardiff University During her tenure as education secretary, Bridget Phillipson was clear that her vision for mainstream inclusion involved children being “able to go to school …
Parents told us from the very start that the Government’s SEND “National Conversation” felt anything but conversational. We wrote about it at the time, describing how parents were left with …
Families of disabled children know all too well how easily a request for help can turn into scrutiny, suspicion or even a child protection investigation. It’s a pattern we’ve covered …
with Sabiha Aziz The 2014 SEND reforms placed Parent Carer Forums (PCFs) at the heart of local decision-making, with the aim of ensuring families had a genuine voice in shaping …
With ChristinaWelsh. Senior Polict Officer, Natspec There’s a growing focus on what inclusion is and, very recently, on education and career options for young people. But there is still a …
with The National Portage Association Portage is one of those Early Years interventions that quietly transforms lives, yet far too many families still don’t have access to it. When I …
By Joanna Gibbs, SENsational Tutors Last week, we analysed part two of the Government’s SEND reform proposals that destroy the principle of Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) in an …
By Eva Sheffield, SEND parent Winning the right educational provision should not be the beginning of another battle. Yet for some families whose children receive alternative education out of school, …
By Suja Vairavanathan, Founder & Director, Natchathiram CIC One of the things we’re passionate about at SNJ is helping families across all communities understand and access their and their child’s …
By Emma McDonnell Emma McDonnell’s story is going to be familiar to many readers. “We don’t see that here,” or words to that effect, tell you they think you’re the …
by Justina Asafu-Adjaye, Education Consultant and Parent Advocate As the conversation about SEND reform continues, it’s important to keep in mind the children whose needs remain the least visible or …
The government insists its SEND reforms will deliver a more inclusive system, with mainstream schools better equipped to meet the needs of all pupils, including those who are neurodivergent. But …
By Melissa Hayhurst, SEND parent SNJ Intro: Later today, we’re hosting our webinar with the SEND Minister, Georgia Gould MP (Details here). Our first question will be obvious: her response …
