While the dust from new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham’s reshuffle begins to settle at the Department for Education, there are still live consultations going on. We’ll soon find out what …
It’s been a month since the government announced the Schools White Paper and their consultation on SEND reform. The consultation’s still ongoing. If you need some inspiration or motivation to …
By the time you read this, we’re expecting the Department for Education (DfE) to have announced extra funding to help get the SEND reforms in the Schools White Paper off …
Last week, the government published details of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement, the package that sets out what funding Whitehall provides to councils each year. Normally, education doesn’t feature …
Another day, another announcement. No sooner has the government’s 90% SEND debt write-off lifted the funding Sword of Damocles off councils, than more school plans are announced. This video by …
“Co-production is the golden thread that weaves through everything we do,” trumpet council presentations about changing SEND for the better. But it’s evident that the golden thread is is something …
It’s hard to keep track of things with the current flurry of recent reports, ‘open conversations’ and shady briefings on SEND. But back in March 2025, the government announced some …
Last week, the government announced it was allocating at least £3 billion to create “tens of thousands of new specialist places in mainstream schools” for children and young people with …
Last month, the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson announced the government was delaying the announcement of reforms to the English SEND system until 2026. She said changes to …
In our final look at the SEND Inquiry report, we’re taking a longer look at what it says about funding—one of the central and thorniest causes of the SEND crisis. …
By Matt Keer and Dr Sharon Smith Before we get into today’s post, over the weekend it was announced that Schools/SEND Minister, Catherine McKinnell has resigned. Her replacement is Georgia …
SNJ’s Matt Keer was the first to bring the last government’s Safety Valve scheme to light, and we have continued to highlight the issues with it. Today, Matt deconstructs a …
Last week, the Department for Education (DfE) pushed out a few bits of SEND data. They’re not each worth a post in their own right, so here’s a round-up of …
By Sam Carlisle, SEND Parent, journalist SNJ Note: The Education Select Committee held its second oral hearing this week in its SEND Inquiry. Significantly more MPs were in attendance than …
With Bristol parent carer, Jen Smith, In our SEND Inquiry response, one of the (many) recommendations we have made is for the Department for Education’s controversial SEND Safety Valve scheme …
SNJ first highlighted the SEND Safety Valve programme back in 2021. This Department for Education (DfE) scheme, essentially “blackmails” debt-ridden local authorities (LAs) into cutting services for disabled children in …
Deep in the deserts of Turkmenistan, there’s a toxic fire that’s been burning for decades. It’s known locally as the Door to Hell. Inadvertently started by unaccountable government apparatchiks, exacerbated …
Yesterday, the Department for Education announced two things about funding for special educational needs and disability (SEND) in England: The government also announced the appointment of a chairperson, Professor Karen …
by Rachel Filmer, Matt Keer and Tania Tirraoro Today, we’re looking at a surprisingly frank report from Surrey about their SEND that’s relevant wherever you live, but first, if you …
Last week, the National Audit Office (NAO) issued a damning report on the state of SEND in England. On the same day, the Department for Education also issued a report …
