Investigation: How EHCPs are Failing Our Most Vulnerable Children Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) were introduced in England to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. However, recent evidence suggests that these plans are falling short of their intended purpose, leaving some of our most vulnerable children without adequate support. Th
The education system in the United Kingdom is facing a silent crisis that threatens to undermine the future of our children and the nation as a whole. Unfulfilled teaching roles in UK schools are having far-reaching consequences, affecting not just the quality of education but also exacerbating existing inequalities.
The UK Pupil Absence Crisis: Causes, Impacts, and Potential Solutions The United Kingdom is currently grappling with a significant challenge in its education system: a pupil absence crisis. This issue has been steadily growing, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now a major concern for educators, policymakers, and parents alike. Let's delve into the causes, impacts, and
A Transformative Approach to Digital Education This week, the UK Department for Education announced a comprehensive new Digital Literacy Framework aimed at equipping students across all age groups with essential digital skills for the future workplace. The initiative represents one of the most significant overhauls of technology education in UK schools in the past decade. The framework, whic
Learn about the government's cautious approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms, including key changes, implementation timeline, and what this means for schools and families. Discover how the three-year trial period aims to refine these flagship reforms before nationwide rollout.
This initiative aims to address the growing challenges in the SEND system and ensure better outcomes for children with special needs. Learn about the challenges, what it means for schools and families, and how it fits into broader SEND reforms
Our recent work in Lambeth shows that government could quickly drive up SEND capacity nationally by incentivising partnerships between LAs and trusts. Education select committee chair, Helen Hayes MP has described SEND as ‘ the single biggest challenge at all points of the education system ’. She is right, and the committee’s continuing inquiry into how best to address the c
Amanda Spielman, Leora Cruddas and trust representatives will advise Baroness Barran on accountability reforms The government has launched a review of school accountability and regulation it claims will “future proof” the role of academy trusts and “pave the way” for the conversion of all schools. The regulatory review , which was supposed to be launched in May, was pledged in th
The Department for Education announces new initiative to track special school availability after widespread places crisis leaves thousands of SEND children without appropriate educational settings. Learn about the data being collected, what it means for schools and families, and how it fits into broader SEND reforms.
The capacity crisis in UK special schools is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires urgent attention and long-term solutions. While recent investments and plans for change offer hope, the current situation remains dire for many families and local authorities struggling to provide adequate support for children and young people with SEND.
Nadhim Zahawi sets out his vision to 'introduce and implement standards that will improve children’s education' The government has today published its schools white paper , titled “Opportunity for all: Strong schools with great teachers for your child”. Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said it set out his vision to “introduce and implement standards that will improve
The first schools were due to open from this month. But Schools Week analysis found just one in its permanent building so far Just one of 37 free schools for some of England’s most vulnerable children has opened in a permanent home two years after they were promised to address a chronic crisis in available spaces. When the former education secretary , Gavin Williamson, announced
'In the most extreme cases you could have kids sitting at home, self-harming for a year with no provision. Parents of vulnerable children are being forced to wait nearly a year to challenge refusals by councils to offer SEND support. The special educational needs and disability tribunal (SENDIST) gives parents the right to appeal a council’s decisions on educational, health and care plans
In the past academic year, 11,052 SEND appeals were registered – a 29 per cent rise from 8,579 the previous year The number of parents launching tribunal appeals over a council’s refusal to provide SEND support for their vulnerable child has passed 10,000 in a year for the first time. In the past academic year, 11,052 SEND appeals were registered – a 29 per cent rise from 8,579 t
A lack of state-funded places is forcing councils to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to send pupils to independent special schools. Councils sent up to triple the number of SEND pupils to independent special schools last year compared with six years ago, Schools Week can exclusively reveal. Councils blame the shift on a lack of funds for new state places, leaving them unable to ke
