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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Coronavirus Guidance for School Updated

After the announcement from the government that we are moving to Step 4 of the roadmap to easing restrictions, new guidance has been issued for schools and specialist settings. 

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Keeping Children Safe in Education for September 2021 Published

The government has published the ‘for information’ version of the KCSIE that comes into force in September 2021. Some of the changes include more detail and guidance on peer-on-peer abuse, not unexpected in light of the recent Ofsted review. 

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Autistica Research Festival

Autistica, the UK’s national autism research charity, are hosting their research festival online for the second year. The festival of research will run from Monday 12th July to Friday 16th July 2021.

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TES SEN Show Webinar Week

TES has just announced a week of free webinars one each day from 12th July 2021.

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DfE announce funding for Senior Mental Health Lead training 

As part of the Government’s broader mental health programme across education, funding is being made available for up to 7,800 schools and colleges to access a grant to pay for Senior Mental Health Lead training.

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Pupils with an EHCP 1.5 times more likely to miss at least one day of school than a pupil with no SEN

The FFT Education Data Lab have produced a report based on data collected from FFT Aspire from 2000 schools focusing on Year 11 pupils in their GCSE year. The figures show that across the board there has been double the number of absences in comparison...

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Mental Health services are ‘Not making the grade’ reports MIND

A new report by charity MIND shows secondary schools are struggling to meet the mental health needs of a growing number of pupils.

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Millions of children and young people with SEND risk missing out on vital support

New research published by nasen and Bath Spa University has found that millions of children and young people with SEND will be left vulnerable for decades to come if the SENCO workforce isn’t given more time, resources and support.

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INVITATION TO TENDER (ITT) - Video Production Services

nasen is looking for a videographer/production team to become the preferred supplier for its video, photography, and production requirements in the future.

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Person + environment = outcome – ‘It’s not Rocket Science’ Report

A new report commissioned by National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) documents the experiences of autistic children and young people who have accessed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient environments.

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5 Steps to Health Booklet for people with learning disabilities

The 5 Steps to Health booklet, produced by the NHS and the Merseyside-based charity Options for Supported Living, is a guide to supporting good health for people with learning disabilities to support them, their friends & families and other professionals.

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New EEF Guide to Feedback

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have produced a new guide to teacher feedback to support learning. A foreword by Dylan William, Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment concisely identifies the essence of the report.

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Government seeks your views on behaviour in schools

The Department of Education has launched an open consultation to help inform their review of behaviour guidance and suspensions and permanent exclusions guidance to be undertaken later this year. 

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Unique Performing Arts based Certificate in Higher Education

A brand new course for adults with a learning disability or autism has been launched by Mind the Gap in York.

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Have your say - ‘How schools are coping with the impact of Covid-19 on the teaching of pupils with SEND: lessons for schools’

The Special Education Needs Policy Reference Forum (SENPRF), an independent sector expert forum, have published their report  ‘How schools are coping with the impact of Covid-19 on the teaching of pupils with SEND: lessons for schools’

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Reminder to access government support this summer  - action before 30th June

Vicky Ford MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, has this week written to leaders of special and alternative provision schools reminding them of the opportunity to access two key areas of government support this summer.

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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.