SEND

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

Friday

1st Mar 2024

Birmingham bankruptcy and childcare cuts: the painful truth for schools
Funding disasters at councils nationwide make it clear why schools have had to take on so many more pastoral and social care responsibilities – but that cannot hold forever, warns Sam Freedman
Birmingham bankruptcy and childcare cuts: The painful truth for schools

Thursday

29th Feb 2024

Some autistic pupils have to ‘fail’ to get support, MSPs told
Inquiry into additional support for learning hears of families who do not feel that their autistic child is included in mainstream school
Some autistic pupils have to ‘fail’ to receive support, MSPs told
Speech and language therapists ‘should be in schools’
Speech and language therapists should be working in schools supporting teachers – not in clinics, says the head of the professional body for SLTs in Scotland
Speech and language therapists ‘should be based in schools’

Wednesday

28th Feb 2024

Open plan ‘super schools’ deemed bad for pupils with ASN
New schools are often large and open plan, but the noise can make it harder for children to learn – and in the worst-case scenario, they can also be unsafe, MSPs hear
Open plan ‘super schools’ deemed bad for ASN pupils

Monday

26th Feb 2024

Glasgow cuts: 450 teaching jobs to go over three years
The authority is looking to save £27.8 million – but unions warn the move will negatively impact all children and lead to an increase in exclusions
Glasgow council cuts

Friday

23rd Feb 2024

Labour: ‘Inclusivity will be at the heart of our education vision’
Labour will prioritise inclusion and use early identification of SEND in EYFS as one approach to alleviate the strains on the SEND system, writes Helen Hayes, the shadow minister for children and early years
Labour: ‘Inclusivity will be at the heart of our education vision’

Thursday

22nd Feb 2024

Budget deficits show SEND funding must change
The financial difficulties of MATs and councils should be a wake-up call that we need a new approach to SEND funding, says this trust finance officer, who suggests a solution
empty jars

Wednesday

21st Feb 2024

‘Explosion’ in ASN numbers sees schools struggling
More staff and better training urgently needed to help pupils with additional support needs – even coffee shops set the bar higher for mandatory training, Additional Support for Learning Inquiry hears
ASN SUPPORT

Sunday

18th Feb 2024

Why inclusion makes economic sense
Arguments for inclusion usually draw on moral grounds, but there are economic reasons to make schools more inclusive, too, says Rob Webster
Inclusion economic sense escalator

Saturday

17th Feb 2024

Why some pupils are better off in specialist provision
A DfE report suggests that half of children in specialist provision could attend mainstream – but head Nigel Matthias says this overlooks what’s best for many pupils
specialist provision

Friday

16th Feb 2024

Revealed: The ‘sickening’ rise in supply costs hitting schools
Supply spend is rising across the schools system, with leaders citing the growing support needs of pupils, teacher shortages and higher supply prices as cost drivers
Supply costs
Exclusive

Wednesday

14th Feb 2024

‘Autism support delays show system must change’
A huge increase in children waiting for autism assessments since the pandemic proves current frameworks don’t work and better multi-disciplinary partnerships with schools are needed, says Anne Longfield
Autism support