After our articles on Matt’s discovery of the apparent 20% cuts targeted for EHCPs for local authorities in the Government’s “Delivering Better Value” in SEND programme, we were contacted by …
Amy Skipp, ASK Resesarch, and Jenna Julius, NFER Over the last few weeks, NFER and ASK Research have published a three-part research series, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, investigating the …
Earlier this week, I attended the valedictory lecture in London for Dame Christine Lenehan, the long-time Director of the Council for Disabled Children. Dame Christine took up the role twenty …
The new SEND Minister, David Johnston, has denied the Government is working towards cuts of 20% in EHCPs for local authorities on its “Delivering Better Value” (DBV) programme, as we …
I recently came across two linked articles written by academic Alan Hodkinson discussing the history of the SEND system. They immediately drew my attention as the articles attempted to understand …
by Eleanor Wright, CEO of SEND legal charity, SOSSEN As well as updated exclusions guidance, the Department for Education also issued updated guidance on school transport just before the summer …
It feels like decades since “hopeful beginnings” for a new school year was a reality, even before the actual fabric of school buildings threatened to fall. For parents of vulnerable …
by Matt Keer and Tania Tirraoro Matt writes: On Friday, we took a look at the Department for Education’s Delivering Better Value in SEND financial intervention programme. Fifty-five of England’s …
The world of SEND is swamped with consultants and cost-saving schemes at the moment, and even more are being planned. We’ve looked at some of these already. Today, it’s the …
By Imogen Steele, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Contact Our post today comes from Imogen Steele of the charity Contact about their upcoming webinar on 19 September about Free School …
Today, we are delighted to welcome a new columnist, Frances Akinde. Frances is a former special secondary headteacher and NASENCO who has worked across the breadth of education settings. She …
It’s not even the start of the school year and I’m already furious. Why, you ask? Apart from the fact that the Department for Education is moving forward apace with …
Four years ago, the Department for Education (DfE) began a review into the SEND system. Six months ago, the DfE announced what government’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan would …
+++ Note this consultation closes on 6th September so don’t delay ++ A strong sense of despair and hopelessness comes over me whenever I am asked to respond to (yet …
With Becky Maddern for Scope For most children, a trip to the park is a fun way to pass an hour or so. The slide! The climbing frame! The swings! …
How to bring down the ever-rising number of appeals to the SEND Tribunal is a vexing question occupying many minds at the top of government. It was central to the …
Should headteachers and school governors undergo mandatory training in the Equality Act 2010 and, specifically, disability discrimination? I’d like to think that they would already have a good grounding in …
Once again, families’ complaints about English councils’ education and children’s services were overwhelmingly upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). In its 2022-23 annual review, the LGSCO …
If you have been involved in an EHCP appeal before the SEND Tribunal, then there is a good chance that you will have experienced the frustration of a local authority …
The SEND trope of the EHCP “Golden Ticket” has recently once again raised its pernicious head on social media. Over recent years, the term has been employed to imply the wrong-headed …
