Ofsted’s grim verdict on SEND in England
Ofsted’s annual report, late because of the election, has a great deal to say about SEND and not much of it is good. To recap figures we’ve previously reported (links …
Category: special needs
How the 2020 SENCO Surveys findings could really improve SEND provision nationally
Three years ago, when I first imagined what a SENCO Survey might achieve, I spent a lot of time wondering if it was even possible, and what the immediate impact …
Ofsted explains its new way of reporting on SEND provision in education
with Nick Whittaker, Specialist Adviser, SEND, Ofsted In one of my roles, I work alongside other SEND representatives on Ofsted’s SEND Stakeholder Advisory Group. As I spend a lot of …
New Autism Toolkit launched to get support for children #RightFromTheStart
A few months ago, we ran a story about the development of a new toolkit called for #RightFromTheStart to assist schools to recognise and help children with autism. I was …
What the Personal Wheelchair Budget means for disabled people in England
with Clare Dangerfield, Campaigning and Public Affairs Manager, Newlife charity If you or your child uses a wheelchair, you will know how expensive it can be to try to get …
Challenging opaque, illegal social care plans for disabled adults
With Belinda Schweher, CEO, social care legal charity CASCAIDr Anyone who’s tried to get social care help for a young adult, or to get care listed as “educational” support in …
The 2019 SEND Advocates’ Stampede
🎵 Seems to me nowThat the dreams we had beforeAre all dead, nothing moreThan confetti on the floorIt’s the end of a decade 🎵 In another ten years’ timeWho can …
A Christmas message and a moment of gratitude
Well here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun…. This is a post full of gratitude. It’s been a really, really hard year for so many of us. The last …
Relentlessly unlawful LA decisions are damaging children and forcing the SEND Tribunal into crisis
Last Friday, whilst people were still getting their heads around the General Election, SNJ’s relentless data hoover sucked in a new set of figures – fresh information on the Special …
Join us in the fight ahead to defend the rights of disabled children
Our hearts may be as heavy today as they were on Friday morning. But there is no more time to waste grieving. The rights of our disabled children, young people, …
Review: Controlling pain with the PainPod
Some time ago, Renata and I were asked to review* a device called a PainPod that claims to control pain, a sort of Tens machine “plus”. A Tens machine is …
Our LA left us feeling so abused we escaped to Scotland for a better life with our SEND son
with Harminder Samra, SEND parent Just over two years ago we ran an article by Harminder Samra, the mother of Kyle, who has specific learning difficulties (SpLD) but no behavioural …
EHCP Annual Review: Our stats show there’s nothing annual about them…
After months of form-filling, evidence gathering, panel meetings and bureaucratic slow-dancing, your child or young person now has an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP). With a bit of luck, …
Review: Starving the Depression Gremlin – a CBT workbook
Depression is an increasingly common issue in children and adolescents. Today we’re reviewing Starving the Depression Gremlin – a cognitive behavioural therapy workbook on managing depression for young people by …
Exemplary Practice: Why this special school is PROUD of its pupil voice
with Mary Isherwood OBE, Headteacher Camberwell Park Specialist Support School, Moston, Manchester There’s so much bad, stressful or just plain fake news around to drive us all crazy, it’s way …
#VoteSEND: How disabled people & their families can make a difference this election
A poll of families who have a child or young person with SEND suggests that more than two million General Election votes are “up for grabs” among parents of disabled …
The right to a suitable education: what the law says
Why do I have to go to school to learn? Many children and young people find school or college inaccessible for a variety of reasons. It can be difficult enough …
Safeguarding and children with SEND: What parents need to know
with the Safe Schools Alliance “All organisations that work with or come into contact with children should have safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that every child, regardless of their …
What’s a PRU to you? Busting the myths about alternative provision
with David Mills, Executive Vice Principal, Phoenix Park Academy & Sevenhills Academy When a child is admitted to a pupil referral unit (PRU) the impression people often get is that …
SEND Community Alliance: A Manifesto
We recently announced the establishment of our new campaigning group, led by the teams from Special Needs Jungle, SEND National Crisis and SEND Action. SEND Community Alliance is an independent …