Today
Call for new national definition of special schools and AP
Children’s commissioner report also calls for alternative provision sector to be renamed to give public better understanding of its work
What do alternative provision leaders want from the White Paper?
AP doesn’t just need to be expanded – it needs to be refocused, say leaders ahead of upcoming reforms
Tuesday
MPs grill Phillipson on SEND, phones and Ofsted
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson faces Commons Education Select Committee after government Budget sparks SEND controversy
‘Government’s confused free school policy is harming outcomes’
Delays and confusion over the opening of new free schools is putting pupil outcomes at risk, argues Meg Powell-Chandler
Ofsted chief’s warning over ‘scandal’ of children missing education
Sir Martyn Oliver hopes the watchdog’s new inspection framework will result in a ‘system-wide behaviour shift on inclusion’
SEND: Gould to hear public’s view on national support framework
Schools minister Georgia Gould will hold a series of face-to-face public events about DfE’s planned reforms
Friday
Training alone will not solve SEND crisis, ITT providers warn
Teacher trainers say they do not have enough time to cover the breadth of special educational needs and disabilities in initial teacher training
Assistive tech use grows - but many teachers remain untrained
Schools are also restricting pupils’ use of artificial intelligence for homework and live lessons, research finds
5 questions for school leaders on the Budget’s implications for SEND
The Budget was light on detail on plans for SEND, but presented critical questions for school leaders. Trust leader and SEND expert Warren Carratt provides some answers
