SEND
The latest news, analysis, research and advice relating to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) sector
Wednesday
1st Oct 2025
Ofsted finds gaps in SEND training for trainee teachers
Inspectors praise overall coverage of SEND in ITT programmes but warn of patchy mentor knowledge and limited practical strategies in some providers
Attendance: How we support early strugglers to stay at our school
Rather than sending new students struggling with attendance to alternative provision settings, this school has created a programme to ease them into secondary life – with impressive outcomes
Tuesday
30th Sep 2025
Phillipson: Heads need training to avoid ‘talking down’ to parents
The education secretary says school leaders should not ‘drift into judgement’ when engaging with parents
Call for heads’ SEND qualification is questioned
MP defends plan to require new school leaders to have expertise in special educational needs, during Labour conference event
SEND reform: How a citizens’ assembly could break the impasse
With the debate about possible SEND system changes becoming increasingly heated, it would make sense for the government to take a step back and foster public dialogue on the way forward, argue these academics
Thursday
25th Sep 2025
1 in 4 primary heads deals with pupil sexual violence or harassment
And nearly half of primary teachers now say that pupil misbehaviour affects their wellbeing, DfE survey finds
SEND: Call for more teacher tools and training to support pupils
DfE report calls for more teacher-focused tools and ITT training to support early identification of pupils’ needs
Restraint and seclusion bill ‘absolutely vital’ for Scottish pupils
Children’s commissioner says campaigners have waited ‘many, many years’ for the ‘significant milestone’
The PINS programme: a blueprint for better inclusion?
A school involved in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools pilot explains why it could be used across the sector