SEND Improvement

This page collates all our information about the SEND Review, Green Paper and the 2023 SEND Improvement Plan

About the SEND Improvement Plan

The Government’s SEND Improvement Plan was published on 2 March 2023. Below are key links, including to Department for Education official publications. Scroll down to read our articles on the issue.

Useful Links:

About the SEND Review

SNJ’s Consultation Response

You can read the Special Needs Jungle response to the SEND Review Green Paper Consultation here. You can also find links to those of other organisations

Our posts on the SEND Review and SEND Improvement Plan

Is the Government rationing EHC plans? Catriona Moore May 25, 2023
MPs on the House of Commons Education Select Committee invited the Children’s Minister, Claire Coutinho, in for a chat this week about the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan. Members of…
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Webinar Recording: “We’re not even testing mandatory mediation” SEND Minister, Claire Coutinho answers your questionsscreenshot of Tania, Renata and Claire Coutinho from the webinar with title Special Needs Jungle May 3, 2023
On Tuesday 2nd May, we were joined by Claire Coutinho, Education Minister with responsibility for SEND to discuss the SEND Improvement Plan. Many of you sent in questions before the…
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How will the Government’s new NPQ SENCO qualification improve SEND provision? Hannah Moloney April 25, 2023
A school’s commitment to inclusion can easily be measured in three core ways: whether the SENCO is given the time and team to advocate for its children with identified needs;…
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SNJ WEBINAR: SEND Minister Claire Coutinho discusses the SEND Improvement Plan. Register now!SEND Improvement Plan webinar with Claire Coutinho 2.5.23 10am register Tania Tirraoro April 19, 2023
We have another fabulous webinar lined up for you — with Education Minister, Claire Coutinho, who has responsibility for SEND. Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, joined the Department for…
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Better co-production is crucial for improving SEND provision. But are the Government’s plans a case of magical thinking? Sharon Smith April 4, 2023
‘Critically, we agree with what we heard during the consultation: that the national system should be co-produced with families, children and young people, so we can build their confidence that…
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How does the Government intend to fund its new SEND Improvement plan? Matt Keer March 29, 2023
Over the last few weeks, we’ve covered some of the main features of the Department for Education’s (DfE) SEND & Alternative Provision Improvement Plan: what it means for accountability, what…
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WEBINAR RECORDING: Will the SEND Improvement Plan fix provision for disabled children and young people? Tania Tirraoro March 16, 2023
On March 15 2023, Special Needs Jungle held a webinar exploring the Department for Education's long-awaited SEND Improvement Plan, something it describes as a "Transformation in SEND" Is it though?…
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Will non-statutory National Standards improve SEND or just create confusion and more unlawful behaviour? Catriona Moore March 15, 2023
TONIGHT! LIVE WEBINAR: Will the Government’s “SEND Improvement Plan” fix SEND? Register here! The SEND Improvement Plan published by the Government on 2nd March was described in an excited press…
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How does the the SEND Improvement Plan intend to create more accountability? Matt Keer March 9, 2023
On 2nd March, the Department for Education finally published its plan to improve the SEND and alternative provision system. Over the next few weeks, SNJ will be looking at different…
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The Government’s SEND Improvement Plan: an initial overview Tania Tirraoro March 2, 2023
also with Matt Keer and Catriona Moore “It is time to deliver a more dignified experience for children and young people with SEND and to restore families’ confidence in the…
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New SENCO research questions the SEND Review’s “irresponsible” plans to downgrade the NASENCO award Special Needs Jungle February 27, 2023
with Dr Graeme Dobson, University of Birmingham We are anticipating the publication of the Department for Education very shortly. One of the major proposals was upskilling the SEND workforce, something…
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A response to our letter to Ministers about the SEND Review Special Needs Jungle February 14, 2023
Before Christmas, we wrote to the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan to outline our concerns about the direction of the SEND Review and its subsequent consultation, especially in light of last…
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Why the DfE’s SEND Adviser,, Tony McArdle, is wrong, wrong, wrong: Matt’s Director’s Cut Matt Keer January 27, 2023
Earlier this week Schools Week ran an article from us responding to their earlier interview about the SEND system with Tony McArdle, a Department for Education SEND adviser. His wasn’t…
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Don’t make it harder to get EHCPs warns Equality and Human Rights Commission as DfE considers “raising the bar” Tania Tirraoro January 26, 2023
As education ministers review the upcoming “SEND Improvement Plan” it’s to be hoped they have found time to read this week’s Children’s Rights in Britain report from the Equality and…
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Join our call for Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, to PAUSE further SEND reform plans and PUBLISH the SEND Review responses now! Special Needs Jungle December 21, 2022
Christmas is upon us, but we have one more act for this year before we finish. We have decided to write a post directed at Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State…
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A failure of Children and Families Act implementation does not mean rip it up and start again m’luds Catriona Moore December 7, 2022
The Children and Families Act 2014 – a wide-ranging piece of legislation that includes the legal framework for supporting children and young people with SEND – has failed a generation…
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Parents call on SEND Minister to invest in deaf children missing vital support in schools Matt Keer December 5, 2022
with Juliet, the mum of a profoundly deaf child I've got two deaf children. They've left the SEND system now, having seen the absolute best and the toxic, gamma-spitting worst…
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School staff need a pay rise, but when LAs don’t pass on government funding, it’s SEND pupils who suffer most Matt Keer November 30, 2022
Everyone’s feeling the cost of living crisis right now – and the world of SEND hasn’t been spared. Most children and young people with SEND are educated in schools. In…
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Ofsted: New area SEND inspection framework can be a “catalyst for change” Special Needs Jungle November 29, 2022
with Kathryn Rudd, Ofsted Senior HMI for SEND As time has gone on Ofsted and CQC’s SEND area inspections have provided an important, though flawed, accountability route for the 2014…
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With no ministerial oversight for months, has the SEND Review lost legitimacy? Here’s what needs to happen now Tania Tirraoro November 2, 2022
Another day, another new SEND Minister – although at the time of writing their identity remains a mystery. It’s become almost routine, this government’s casual lack of regard for the…
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Could the SEND Review’s “big ideas” wither on the vine of political uncertainty? Catriona Moore October 25, 2022
Two Secretaries of State ago, back in the politically distant days of July, the House of Commons Education Select Committee wrote to the then Education Secretary, James Cleverly MP, about…
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Is NHS England breaking a promise to roll out eye care for disabled children in all special schools? Tania Tirraoro October 14, 2022
with Aylee Richmond, National Eye Care Information Officer, SeeAbility A few years ago I woke up with vision loss in one of my eyes. It was frightening, but I was…
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New SEND Minister, Kelly Tolhurst: many responsibilities but none so important as disabled children’s futures Catriona Moore September 28, 2022
We’d begun to get a little paranoid at Special Needs Jungle that maybe no one really wanted children and young people with SEND. Three weeks have passed since a new…
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SNJ’s response to the EHCP Annual Review Timescales consultation Special Needs Jungle September 2, 2022
The Department for Education consultation on EHCP Timescales closed last month. We put in our own response, and we’re publishing it today. It contains not only our answers to the…
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Special Needs Jungle’s #SENDReview Consultation response Tania Tirraoro July 26, 2022
A short post to share with you the SNJ SEND Review Green paper consultation response. It was quite a mammoth effort, weaving all the views we have published here over…
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#SENDReview: National standards plans are an assault on the rights and entitlements of children and young people with SEND Ali Fiddy, CEO, IPSEA July 15, 2022
One of the main, and most worrying, proposals in the SEND Green Paper is the introduction of National Standards. Some in the SEND sector are in favour of National Standards…
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Quince back on board with SEND as the Education Committee sends a shot across the bows Catriona Moore July 13, 2022
It's finally been confirmed that Will Quince MP will continue to have political responsibility for SEND, and the SEND Review, following last week’s ministerial resignation/reshuffle that saw him promoted to…
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Without detailed plans for its planned “Inclusion Dashboards”, the DfE is navigating towards an Inclusion Illusion Dr Rob Webster July 12, 2022
I don’t mean to show off, but my car has a very fancy dashboard. As well as the standard features – speedometer, odometer, petrol gauge – it can, with a…
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How will the new ‘Universal SEND Services’ programme help for learners with SEND? Tania Tirraoro July 8, 2022
with Amanda Wright, Deputy Head of Whole School SEND Earlier this year, The Department for Education announced a funding service to improve SEND training in school and further education workforce,…
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Legal action launched against #SENDReview Consultation, over “misleading” disability discrimination Tribunal question Tania Tirraoro July 6, 2022
It’s all happening isn’t it? As Nadhim Zahawi scarpers to No11 (don’t let the door to Sanctuary Buildings hit you on the way out, love), the new (probably temporary) appointee,…
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Are new SEND financial accountability measures compatible with lawful SEND provision? Matt Keer July 5, 2022
Accountability. Ask most SEND parents, and that’s what they’ll tell you is missing from the current system. Most of the questions that parents put to Minister Will Quince at last week’s…
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WEBINAR RECORDING: Will Quince MP answers YOUR questions on the #SENDReview Green Paper Tania Tirraoro June 29, 2022
If you missed, or indeed want to rewatch, our joint webinar with Children and Families Minister Will Quince on the SEND Review Green Paper we've now uploaded it. We'll also…
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SNJ in Conversation podcast: Will Quince in our hot seat discussing the #SENDReview Green Paper Tania Tirraoro June 24, 2022
Yesterday, Renata and I sat down virtually with Will Quince MP, Minister for Children and Families for an episode of our video/podcast, SNJ in Conversation. As you know there is…
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#SENDReview Green Paper second WEBINAR: Ask the Minister, Will Quince. Registration open! Tania Tirraoro June 23, 2022
Many of you will have attended or watched our first webinar with Children and Families Minister, Will Quince MP in March, produced jointly with NNPCF, Family Fund and Contact. Since…
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SEND Stats 2022: How has the pandemic affected the numbers of pupils with SEND? Matt Keer June 17, 2022
It’s the middle of June, and that means the Department for Education (DfE) has just published its annual set of statistics on special educational needs in England.  You can find…
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The legal implications of the #SENDReview: WEBINAR RECORDING Tania Tirraoro June 16, 2022
If you didn't manage to get to our webinar about the legal implications of the SEND Review Green Paper, fear not! We've uploaded the recording to our YouTube channel and…
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And yet another SEND consultation, this time: EHCP Annual review timescales Tania Tirraoro June 16, 2022
Consultations are, it seems, like buses. You wait two years for one, then three come along at once. Or, in the case of this new consultation about EHCP annual reviews,…
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Ofsted and the CQC reveal plans for new Area SEND Inspections  Tania Tirraoro June 14, 2022
**Watch a webinar on the consultation from Ofsted** Every local authority and health body in England has now had its SEND provision inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. A…
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WEBINAR: #SENDReview Legal Roundtable. What are the legal implications of SEND Green Paper? Tania Tirraoro June 10, 2022
We've been debating all the merits and otherwise of the SEND Review Green Paper for some time now. But what are the legal implications? We know that some of the…
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The #SENDReview must embed Speech, Language and Communication skills across education, especially teacher training Special Needs Jungle June 1, 2022
with Amy Loxley, Lead Speech and Language Advisor for I CAN, One of the major criticisms of the SEND Review is its silence about the revolution in SEND teacher training…
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What’s in the Children’s social care review for disabled children? Tania Tirraoro May 24, 2022
Children who are looked after by the state (CLA) are undeniably among the most vulnerable in the country, and those who are both looked after and have SEND (a large…
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Human Rights, The Equality Act and Inclusive Education: The 12 changes the #SENDReview Green Paper needs for a paradigm shift Richard Rieser May 20, 2022
Richard Rieser is a disability campaigner and expert in inclusion. This article is his view of how the Green Paper interplays with equality, human rights and inclusive education The SEND…
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What the evidence says about the 13 crucial areas for quality in Alternative Provision Special Needs Jungle May 10, 2022
with Dennis Simms, IntegratED Hub Lead The SEND Review Green Paper places great emphasis on including alternative provision within a "single system" with mainstream and special schools. The DfE want…
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How can the #SENDReview implement new changes while avoiding the same mistakes of the last reforms? Matt Keer May 5, 2022
Let’s kick off with some Green Paper quotes: “Disabled children and children with SEN tell us that they can feel frustrated by a lack of the right help at school…
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#SENDReview: A vision for Alternative Provision, but where’s the evidence? Special Needs Jungle May 4, 2022
by Susie Lenihan, Renata Blower & Tania Tirraoro Chapter 4 of the SEND Review Green paper is focused on reforming the way alternative provision is used and integrating it within…
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#SENDReview: Downgrading SENCO training is a mistake but protected time must be mandatory Tania Tirraoro April 26, 2022
with Tristan Middleton, University of Gloucestershire & chair, LLSCIC. Under the SEND Code of Practice, SENCOs must be gain a Masters-level NASENCO award within three years of taking the role.…
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#SENDReview: What is excellent SEND provision from early years to adulthood? Tania Tirraoro April 22, 2022
So what’s in chapter 3? From the title, you can assume it’s about provision – specifically SEND provision one would imagine. I’ve broken them down into sections, including specifically for each…
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Déjà vu: How will the #SENDReview end the over-promising and under-delivering cycle of support for disabled children? Susan Lenihan April 20, 2022
As you have seen, SNJ are unpicking the detail and supporting parents to have a voice throughout the SEND Review Green Paper consultation. Much is laudable in the SEND review,…
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#SENDReview: Why mandatory mediation in SEND appeals isn’t wanted–or needed Special Needs Jungle April 14, 2022
with Margaret Doyle, author, accredited SEND mediator One of the proposals in the SEND Review Green Paper is for compulsory mediation before parents can register an appeal at the SEND…
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#SENDReview Chapter 2 under the microscope: National standards, EHCP changes, and limiting choice Catriona Moore April 12, 2022
As we continue our analysis of the SEND Green Paper, today we're looking at Chapter two, which includes consultation questions 1-7. Remember, a Green Paper is a discussion document; these…
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What does the #SENDReview Green Paper say about funding the future of SEND? Matt Keer April 8, 2022
This post includes an explanation of how SEND funding works in the simplest way possible, before looking at funding in Chapter 5 of the Green Paper. If you're an expert…
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Post 16: What’s in the #SENDReview Green paper for 16-25-year-old disabled young people?16-25-year-old Ruth Perry, Senior Policy Manager, Natspec April 6, 2022
About SNJ’s SEND review coverage: SNJ is bringing you lots of information and analysis about the SEND Green Paper. We are also interested to hear the responses of other organisations…
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#SENDReview Chapter 5 (part 1): The missing accountability questionaccountability question Matt Keer April 4, 2022
In this article, we'll be looking at the first part of Chapter 5, dealing with Consultation Questions No. 17 & also the catch-all No. 22 The SEND Green Paper is…
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#SENDReview: Defining Alternative Provision and… how about an apology? Tania Tirraoro April 1, 2022
As we all know by now, the SEND Review was published on Tuesday 29th March 2022. The consultation runs for 13 weeks and 4 days, closing on July 1stThere is a dedicated…
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Publication day: Your first look at what’s in the SEND Review Green Paper. Matt Keer March 29, 2022
Updates Summary of the SEND review: right support, right place, right time Dedicated SEND Review website Open consultation SEND review: right support, right place, right time So finally, after more…
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Schools White Paper: what are the implications for SEND? Tania Tirraoro March 28, 2022
The Government’s Schools White Paper (herein SWP for short) has just been published, the day before the long-awaited SEND Green Paper will finally arrive.  It’s been emphasised that the two must…
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“Impowering” the future of SEND where parents and SENCOs just need to be less “demanding”title image Matt Keer March 15, 2022
As the SEND Review Green Paper edges closer - maybe within a week - we decided to look into something that lots of parents have been talking about, not least…
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LAs: SEND failings are everyone’s fault but ours and it’s too easy to get an EHCPcover of report and article title Tania Tirraoro March 11, 2022
with comment from Matt Keer and Ali Fiddy Reports about SEND come and go. Some barely make a mark, some confirm what families already know. But today, the Local Government Association…
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We don’t need ”fundamental SEND reform”. Just sharpen the teeth of the legal system we already have.Boy with head on a bookcase and title image Catriona Moore March 10, 2022
Getting the Children’s Minister’s attention at a webinar this week attended by 200 parents of children with SEND was an excellent opportunity to give him an unmediated insight into our…
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PRE-SEND REVIEW Webinar with Will Quince MPpost title Renata Blower March 7, 2022
Yesterday Special Needs Jungle facilitated a webinar with the SEND Minister, Will Quince MP, ahead of the publication of the SEND Review. We joined with the NNPCF, Contact, and Family…
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Brian Lamb: Will the SEND Review Green Paper deliver lasting improvements for disabled children and families?image of Brian Lamb and title Prof. Brian Lamb OBE March 1, 2022
SNJ note: Prof. Brian Lamb OBE's Lamb Inquiry in 2009 sparked the last SEND Reforms Green Paper. We're delighted he's here on SNJ to give his thoughts on what's gone…
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£93 million more in SEND funding for respite, supported internships and making LAs do what they’re supposed tothe earth and sun from space Tania Tirraoro February 2, 2022
We seem to have a tale of two governments at the moment or perhaps we are flipping between parallel universes. In one, the government is in a chaotic, cannibalistic mess…
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Launching the SNJ Intersectionality Panel focusing on disability, race, and cultural discrimination in SEND Special Needs Jungle January 28, 2022
With Marguerite Haye and Mala Thapar, Leads for the SNJ Intersectionality Panel *If this is not an issue that affects you personally, please still share this post on social media…
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SEND Review: Fait accompli or a real chance for parents and practitioners to shape policy? Special Needs Jungle January 17, 2022
with Christopher Robertson, independent academic and author, policy analyst and adviser The SEND Review is promised before Easter with a full consultation. But does this mean that everything in the…
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Disability, the Equality Act and the SEND ReviewDisability, the Equality Act and the SEND Review Richard Rieser January 11, 2022
Disability campaigner Richard Rieser of World of Inclusion discusses the vital importance for the SEND Review to frame itself around disability in the Equality Act On the face of it, the…
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Why the SEND Review MUST extend EHCPs to disabled students in higher educationdisabled students EHCPs Tania Tirraoro January 6, 2022
We’ve been calling for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) to cover all young disabled people in education up to the age of 25 since before the 2014 reforms. So…
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Councils wasted £253 million fighting parents at the SEND Tribunal since 2014 reformstitle image Matt Keer December 10, 2021
Somehow, it’s already early December. That means it’s time for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service to release their set of annual figures about the work of the Special Educational…
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How will the SEND Review create sustainable support that’s also value for money?image of Chris Rossiter with title Chris Rossiter November 19, 2021
SNJ intro: Do you remember the SEND Futures Feasibility study? It was supposed to work out value for money for SEND but not a lot has come out of it…
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The Let us Learn Too petition is misleading, DfE? Really?title image of families Special Needs Jungle October 18, 2021
The Department for Education has claimed that the Let Us Learn Too petition SNJ and SCA are involved with and support is "misleading" The campaign has been driven by SCA…
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Mr Zahawi: Publish the SEND Review—but make sure it solves the RIGHT problemTitle of post plus image of Nadhim Zahawi Catriona Moore September 17, 2021
A government reshuffle: it’s as good as anything else for a temporary distraction. There’s always the hope it might result in a minister who really knows and cares about the…
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Dear Boris, you must act now to help disabled children #LetUsLearnTooDear Boris, you must act now to help disabled children #LetUsLearnToo Tania Tirraoro September 8, 2021
On Monday, we ran an article coinciding with the launch of the #LetUsLearnToo video. The campaign is urging the SEND Review not to erode disabled children's rights as the Department…
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Dame Christine: I’d like to set the record straightDame Christine Lenehan, a shot of the tween and the post title Special Needs Jungle July 21, 2021
With Dame Christine Lenehan, Council for Disabled Children Now and again, someone says or writes something that's so surprising, that's the very opposite of what you'd expect them to say,…
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Public Accounts Committee Inquiry report adds pressure to #fixSEND. SEND Review MUST NOT delay furtherimage title over clips of quotes from report Matt Keer May 6, 2020
It seems like a lifetime ago, but for most of last year, you couldn’t move for official inquiries into the state of SEND in England.  Parliament’s Education Select Committee started…
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SEND Review: A game-changer or playing politics with vulnerable children?SEND Review: A game-changer or playing politics with vulnerable children? Catriona Moore September 9, 2019
While the biggest political and constitutional crisis that anyone can remember rages all around us, ministers resign, MPs are purged and no-one is quite sure who will be in Government…
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