SEND News
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The government's long awaited White Paper and consultation about SEND reform 'Every child achieving and thriving and Putting children and young people first' has been published today.
The links are here:
- Specialist SEND support: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/specialist-send-support-in-every-school-and-community
- The White Paper, 'Every child achieving and thriving': https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thriving
- The consultation on 'SEND Reform: 'Putting Children and Young People First' :https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first
- A series of documents setting out the key information and proposed reforms in the schools white paper and SEND consultation document for parents and those working in the sector: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-send-reforms-sheets
The consultation is open until 18 May 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Alongside a wider announcement on the Education Estates Strategy, the Government will be announcing the new term inclusion bases which will replace the terms SEN units, resourced provisions and pupil support units, alongside an ambition that every secondary school will, in time, be expected to have a base.
The new terminology is intended to simplify and clarify the complex landscape and the various types of in-school unit in the current system. It will encompass both local authority and school or trust led provisions. More detail on how we plan to deliver on this ambition and to support schools to deliver effective provision through inclusion bases will be set out in the upcoming Schools White Paper.
We are aware there are already many excellent examples of this form of provision, and so in lots of cases this will be a continuation of the support children and young people with additional needs already receive. Where new places are needed, including by repurposing existing space, this can be supported by the £3.7 billion in high needs capital that we are investing between 2025-26 and 2029-30.
The expansion of inclusion bases will also be supported by guidance on best practice to be published later this year; national networks to support peer learning, share what works, and develop the staff leading these provisions; and we will improve data collection where bases already exist.
We will also be publishing guidance in the spring on adaptations to enhance inclusivity and accessibility in mainstream settings – which is set out in the estates strategy.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/10-year-plan-to-revitalise-schools-and-colleges-for-every-child
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The CDC (Council for Disabled Children) has now published a webinar for schools to complement this guidance. Philippa Stobbs, the lead author on the materials, has written a blog about the new material, Embedding the disability duties in schools.
DfE really hope the new material will be a useful resource for schools in helping craft a more inclusive future where, to quote Ofsted, all pupils can thrive together, understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique.
Links to all the material in this family of publications and training materials are as follows:
Schools:
- The new webinar: Guides and training packages for schools on the Disability duties in the Equality Act
- Blogs: Embedding the disability duties in schools and A more inclusive future? The new series of CDC guides to the disability duties in the Equality Act
- Guides: Guides and training packages for schools on the Disability duties in the Equality Act
- Linkedin post
Early Years:
- Blog ‘The foundation of everything he’s achieving now’: a new guide and training package for early years providers on the disability duties in the Equality Act
- Training and guides Guide and training package for early years providers on the disability duties in the Equality Act
- Linkedin post
FEIs and 16-19 academies:
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Details of the DfE SEND consultation which was launched today can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-national-conversation-on-send
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
After 18 months of campaigning on Mikey Akers’ petition for better access to speech and language therapy, last week a new statement was published calling for urgent investment in services:
https://rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Invest-in-SLT-statement-October-2025.pdf
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Inclusion in Practive held their first webinar of the term last week and saw very high engagement, with 330 attendees and over 800 sign ups (who will have received the webinar recording as a follow up). They have also received really positive feedback from attendees after the event related to the practical nature of the discussion and the quality of the speakers. If you'd like to catch up yourself, you can find the recording on our website here: Webinar - Inclusion in Practice: Building evidence-informed teaching that works for all - Inclusion in Practice
We are now promoting the next webinar in the series, "Inclusion as a Shared Responsibility" which will be held on Thursday 13 November, 4.00-4.50pm. The sign up link to attend is: https://www2.ambition.org.uk/inclusion-as-shared-responsibility-webinar
This webinar will explore inclusion as a shared responsibility involving partnership between teachers, schools, trusts, families, local authorities, and other experts and services. Our expert panel will explore on how you can build strategic approaches to work with families and external partners on inclusion. We will discuss practical ways to build trust with and support families, and understand what effective approaches to drawing on external expertise and services look like.
This webinar is primarily aimed at senior leaders, teachers, SENCOs, school staff and trust teams who want to strengthen inclusive practice through partnership working. It will be particularly valuable for those leading on external partnerships, engagement with parents, carers and families, or SEND provision, and anyone committed to ensuring high-quality teaching benefits all pupils, not just some.
The third webinar in the series will be held on Tuesday 2nd December on the topic of 'Meeting needs early'. Save the Date in your diaries.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Updated guidance on supported internships is available:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-internships-for-young-people-with-learning-difficulties/supported-internships
Page 1 of 20