SEND News

The DfE have today (16 July 2018) published their July SEND Newsletter.

You can find it   pdf here.

Yesterday, 5th July 2018, the Secretary of State for Education addressed the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) at their Manchester conference. The speech covered a range of areas, including:

  • · Safeguarding children
  • · SEND
  • · Alternative provision and exclusions
  • · Care leavers

You can access a transcript of the speech here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/education-secretary-makes-inaugural-speech-to-childrens-services-sector

A video message about the speech was posted on Twitter yesterday.  You can access a link here: https://twitter.com/educationgovuk/status/1014857427286740993

Minister Nadhim Zahawi also spoke at the ADCS conference. You can access his speech here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/children-and-families-minister-addresses-adcs-conference

DfE announcment on 29th May 2019:

Schools will benefit from an extra £50million to improve facilities and create more good school places for children with special educational needs. The Government also announced a further £680million to create 40,000 new good school places.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-million-pound-investment-in-state-of-the-art-facilities-for-children-with-special-educational-needs

 

The CDC have today (24 May 2018) published their May Newletter.  You can find it online at: https://mailchi.mp/ncb/your-may-newsletter-is-here

The DfE have today (10 May 2018) published the May 2018 edition of their SEND Newsletter. 

The newsletter is available document here.

Today sees the launch of the SEND national trial – single route of redress.   This two year national trial extends the powers of the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) to make non-binding recommendations on the health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care plans.  The Tribunal will be able to do this for LA decisions made and EHC plans issued or amended from today, as part of a SEND appeal.

Further information is available in the national trial guidance and the toolkit of practical materials as well as through the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (0207 651 0308).  Parents and young people can also contact their local Information, Advice and Support Service with any questions.

Sarah Newton, Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, has announced several changes to ATW, the main being, “as of April 2018, the cap will not rise to £43,100 in line with 1.5 times average earnings.  Instead it will rise to £57,200, double average earnings, and will be uprated annually on that basis.”

 
Written statement publication attached and the link to  published statement on the Parliament site here.
 

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-20/HCWS563/

On Friday 16 March, the Government announced a programme of work to better understand how to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of all children with additional needs and challenges, so they are able to overcome barriers and realise their potential.

These children perform less well at school on average, are at greater risk of being excluded and are overrepresented in Alternative Provision (AP). This is an overlapping cohort whose needs are often complex – many have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, or are children in need of help and protection and so are supported through the social care system. This work is about understanding what works for these children and spreading effective practice to ensure they can fulfil their potential.   

The programme consists of:

  • · Carrying out an externally led review of school exclusions
  • · Publishing our vision for reforming alternative provision, including the launch of a £4million Innovation Fund
  • · Launching a review into the outcomes of and support for Children In Need

The Secretary of State has also reaffirmed his commitment to respond fully to the recommendations of Dame Christine Lenehan’s review of residential special schools, Good Intentions, Good Enough?, later this year. He will also take that opportunity to set out how the Government will continue working to achieve the vision of a reformed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system, underpinned by the Children and Families Act 2014.

Below we have set out further information on each area of this programme of work, to help you understand how you can engage with us.

  1. SEND Tribunal: Single Route of Redress National Trial
  2. DfE SEND team - letters to LAs - 25 January 2018
  3. Council for Disabled Children Winter Digest
  4. Newsflash from DfE 23 January 2018
  5. Updates from the Department for Education and Department for Health
  6. A guide to the vocational and technical qualification landscape
  7. Multi-million pound boost for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
  8. Publication of Dame Christine Lenehan and Mark Geraghty’s review of residential special schools and colleges
  9. Launch of the new Institute of Teaching
  10. DfE SEND announcements and opportunities
  11. DfE SEN Implementation Team announcement
  12. Government responds to primary assessment consultations
  13. DfE SEND Newsletter for September 2017
  14. Latest DfE SEND data
  15. DfE SEND Newsletter for July 2017
  16. Robert Goodwill appointed new Children and Families Minister