News

Keep up to date with all of the latest news, headlines and features from across the SEND sector.

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News listing

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Deafblind Awareness Week

Deafblind Awareness Week runs from 27th June – 3rd July and the charity Deafblind UK is encouraging everyone to tell someone else about deafblindness during the week so we can all be more deafblind aware. 

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Free holiday clubs for pupils receiving FSM

The Department for Education announced back in November 2020 that it would be extending its holiday activities and food programme to cover the whole of England.

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Major study to begin on impact of Covid-19 on children’s educational, language, social & emotional outcomes

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) announced that they have been awarded a grant from the Nuffield Foundation, worth approximately £500K, to examine the impact that the school closures and lockdowns related to Covid-19...

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Ofsted Report highlights the long-standing issues in the SEND system

New report by Ofsted and the CQC, SEND: old issues, new issues, next steps, highlights how long-standing issues around SEND were amplified during the pandemic.

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New Employ Autism Toolkits published

Ambitious about Autism, The Autism Education Trust and the Department for Education have worked together to produce four toolkits to help more autistic young people access sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities. 

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Ofqual Assistive Technology Research

Ofqual have commissioned and published a qualitative review into the experience of schools and colleges in utilising assistive technology (AT) for high stakes formative assessment.

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Updated Summer School guidance

The DfE has updated the guidance for secondary schools operating Summer schools during the summer break. There is a newly published form for schools to confirm their arrangements by 30th June.

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DfE Estimated Learning Loss report

The DfE ‘Understanding progress paper from the Autumn term of 2021’ highlights the estimated learning loss experienced by pupils due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DfE launch new dedicated sexual harassment helpline with NSPCC

The DfE and the NSPCC have setup a dedicated helpline to support pupils who may have been subjected to abuse or unwanted sexual behaviour whilst in an education setting. This comes as Ofsted release their review into the scale of the problem.

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Former Children’s Commissioner appointed to SEND role within NHS

Anne Longfield OBE has been appointed as the new independent chair of the Learning Disability and Autism Children and Young People’s Steering Group.

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nasen begins search for new CEO

Following a period of unparalleled growth, nasen– the leading charity that exists to support and champion those working with, and for, children and young people with SEND and learning differences – is seeking a new CEO.

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‘Breaks or Breakdown’ the reality for Carers

​​​​​​​A new report by Carers UK has been released to coincide with the start of Carers Week (7th - 13th June 2021).

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NHS Report advocating more co-production with children and young people with SEND

A joint report from NHS Health Education England and Council for Disabled Children, of which nasen is a member, has been released looking into the experience of children and young people accessing healthcare services from NHS settings to personal care.

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Reports highlights how DfE support for children’s education in response to COVID-19 can significantly improve 

A report issued from the House of Commons committee of Public Accounts entitled ‘Covid-19: Support for children’s education’ has detailed the discussion held with representatives from the Department of Education and written evidence...

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Opportunity for your say on commissioning services

On 15th June there will be an opportunity for commissioners, service managers and education leaders across children’s and adults’ SEND services to discuss how commissioning models could help to improve outcomes and manage demand for services...

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Fantastic new opportunities for young adults with EHC plans

DFN Project Search have just announced a partnership with the NHS to set up 42 new funded supported internship programmes providing 500 placements in Hospital Trusts across England by September 2022.

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Ofqual’s student guide to awarding for Summer 2021 issued in accessible formats

Ofqual has issued its guide for students in an easy-read and BSL version on their website.

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Education Resources Awards 2021 announces winners!

The winners of the Education Resources Awards 2021 (ERAs) were announced via an online awards ceremony, hosted by TV comedian Zoe Lyons, on Friday 21st May 2021.

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Ofqual highlights risk of possible bias towards lower assessment results for pupils with SEN

In an effort to better understand the potential differences between teacher and test-based assessment, Ofqual recently published research they carried out looking at all existing research that has explored this area.

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DfE expels ‘expulsions’

The Department for Education has conceded that the language change from ‘exclusion’ to ‘expulsion’, although not tied to a change in policy, may not have been wholly suitable and will revert to ‘permanent exclusion’.