SEND

The latest news, analysis, research and advice relating to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) sector

Thursday

27th Nov 2025

Ofsted SEND inspections: key failings revealed
Tes analysis highlights the main findings in SEND inspection reports for the areas found to have systemic or widespread failings this year
A Tes analysis has highlighted recurring themes in area SEND reports given the lowest ratings.

Wednesday

26th Nov 2025

Are EHCPs really driving the SEND crisis?
Education, health and care plans have been blamed for an unsustainable rise in special educational needs in schools, but would scrapping or limiting these plans fix the problem?
Primary classroom with teacher

Tuesday

25th Nov 2025

Debt-hit council urges action on SEND reform
Council leader writes to Bridget Phillipson on eve of the Budget, warning financial crisis is forcing local authorities into ‘impossible decisions’
Debt-hit council urges action on SEND reform

Sunday

23rd Nov 2025

Make special schools autism centres of excellence, say lords
Mainstream schools need more help and stronger incentives to provide autistic students with the support they need, says House of Lords special inquiry
Special schools should be used as centres for excellence to support pupils with autism, a new House of Lords report has said.

Saturday

22nd Nov 2025

School autonomy shouldn’t mean having to find ‘gaps in hedges’
If we want to be a truly inclusive education system, the assessment and accountability frameworks that penalise inclusion need to be changed, argues this headteacher
Inclusion in education: School autonomy should not have to mean 'finding gaps in hedges', says James Searjeant

Friday

21st Nov 2025

Nick Gibb: Smartphones are ‘asbestos’ for children
Former schools minister also criticises the government for scrapping the EBacc performance measure, which he says will affect uptake of modern languages
Sir Nick Gibb: Smartphones are 'asbestos' for children
Special schools fear being an ‘afterthought’ on curriculum
In response to the curriculum review, leaders in the specialist sector urge the DfE to focus more on what is taught in special schools and how best practice can be shared
Special schools fear being an after thought on the curriculum.
Exclusive

Thursday

20th Nov 2025

SEND: Resource bases ‘can be exclusion in its worst sense’
Mainstream and AP leaders question the government’s focus on resourced provision and SEN units in its drive to create a more inclusive school system
School leaders have questioned the use of resourced provision as a solution to delivering inclusion.
Government funds research to spot SEND needs earlier by 2028
Science minister Lord Vallance says £4 million research programme aims to support faster intervention
SEND funding

Wednesday

19th Nov 2025

How an EYFS profile tool could cut SEND referrals
The tool, developed at the University of Birmingham, is designed to identify the developmental needs of children who might otherwise go ‘under the radar’
Early years pupils in PE

Tuesday

18th Nov 2025

World Schools Summit: 7 insights and observations
Tes reflects on two days of talks, debates and discussions at the education event in the United Arab Emirates
World Schools Summit: 7 insights and observations
No ‘positive outcomes’ in SEND inspections this summer
Just one out of 18 SEND area inspections carried out by Ofsted and the CQC so far this year has resulted in the top inspection rating, data shows
No local areas were given positive Ofsted inspection ratings in SEND area inspections this summer.