The approach to supporting children and young people with additional learning needs was changed when the Welsh Government passed new legislation, called:

They replace the former legislation and guidance about Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Information about the Scottish additional support for learning (ASL) policy; 'All children and young people have the right to get the support they need to reach their full learning potential' can be found here: 

https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/additional-support-for-learning/

On 28 August 2025 Education Minister, Paul Givan, published a Policy Statement on Special Educational Needs (SEN).

https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/news/education-minister-publishes-sen-policy-statement

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) has published three sets of guidance for schools on their duties towards disabled pupils: two are updates of existing guidance, one (on the accessibility planning duty) is entirely new. The DfE commissioned these materials.

This new guidance follows a similar publication for early years settings, published last week, and two for FE colleges published the week before. The CDC has also published a webinar for early years settings.

Here are the links:

Schools:

Early Years:

FEIs and 16-19 academies:

On 22 March 2025 the DfE launched a public consultation on narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges.

The Government response was published on 16 July and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/narrowing-the-digital-divide-in-schools-and-colleges.

The government has published the latest analysis of the parent and pupil learner voice

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/parent-pupil-and-learner-voice-omnibus-surveys-for-2024-to-2025/parent-pupil-and-learner-voice-march-2025

A message from Inclusion in Practice follows:

Thank you to those of you who were able to join our webinar earlier this week, as well as those who have downloaded, shared and engaged with our report. During the webinar, we shared the emerging insights from the call to evidence of evidence and examples of SEND practice from submissions, i.e. what schools and trusts across the country are focusing on, and how they are adapting and learning as they work to strengthen inclusive practice. 

For those who would like to watch (or re-watch!) the webinar, you can access the recording here using the passcode: IIP08.07!!

Alongside these emerging insights we have been interviewing a number of frontline practitioners to deep-dive into promising practice. On our website you can now read case studies from:

🏫 REAch2 Academy Trust, exploring their approach to trust-wide CPD
🏫 The Academy at Shotton Hall, looking at adaptive teaching and teacher-led interventions on literacy and numeracy
🏫 Dixons Academies Trust, outlining their Mountain Rescue approach to inclusive teaching for all children
🏫 Ormiston Academies Trust, sharing their approach to specialist internal provisions

🏫 Burton End Primary Academy, demonstrating whole-school approaches to inclusion for those with visual impairment and early communication and interaction needs

Access all of the case studies, as well as the emerging insights report, is through our website: Case Studies - Inclusion in Practice. There will be more case studies and content published on the website before the end of term.