SEND News
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/29/message-to-the-education-and-care-sector-on-send-reform-from-the-secretary-of-state-for-education-gillian-keegan/
- Written by: Brian Lamb
Ofsted has published their response to the consultation and new guidance. It is summarised with links in a commentary by Amanda Spielman here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hmci-commentary-publishing-our-new-area-send-framework
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), the National Deaf Children’s Society, Speech and Language UK (formerly I CAN) and Voice 21, a broad coalition of over 110 charities, royal colleges, professional bodies, professional associations, trade unions, parents and carers and others have publicly written to the ministers in charge of the SEND Review to ask them to invest in the specialist workforce for children and young people.
The open letter is now published and accessible on this link: https://www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-leads-coalition-calling-for-investment-in-the-specialist-workforce
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Today the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published their phase 1 report on safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings, which can be found at: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Following publication of the report, our new Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan MP has laid a written ministerial statement in response to the report’s publication.
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Dear colleague,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to introduce myself as the new Director of the SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Directorate in the Department for Education (DfE). This is a very exciting and time to be joining DfE and taking up this important role; and I look forward to working with many of you over the coming months on how best to deliver on our shared ambitions to improve the experience and outcomes for children and young people with SEND, and those in AP, as set out in our March 2022 Green Paper.
Consultation on the Green Paper closed on 22nd July, and I thought it would be helpful to give you a brief update on the current position. We are continuing to consider thousands of responses received through our e-consultation and from the 175 consultation events – many thanks to all of you who participated. As you can imagine, working through all this feedback is a major task; and we continue to engage with colleagues in the SEND and AP systems as we develop our next stage of proposals. We remain committed to publishing the Government’s response to the Green Paper consultation in a National SEND and AP Improvement Plan by the end of the calendar year.
As you may already be aware, confirmed portfolios for our DfE Ministerial Team have now been published on gov.uk. I am pleased to confirm that Kelly Tolhurst, Minister for School Standards and Childhood will be responsible for SEND and AP. More details about the new minister’s portfolio are at https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kelly-tolhurst; wider ministerial portfolios can be accessed at the bottom of the DfE homepage at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education.
Thanks, and I very much look forward working with you.
Best wishes
Alison
Director of SEND and Alternative Provision
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Contracts for £18 million supported internships investment announced
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the Internships Work consortium and the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) as the chosen delivery partners for an £18 million investment in the Supported Internships programme.
The new Internships Work programme will deliver on a commitment set out in the SEND and AP green paper, offering more young people who have additional needs (an Education, Health and Care Plan) the skills to secure and sustain paid employment.
The Internships Work programme includes the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi), BASE, and DFN Project SEARCH. It will work closely with local authorities to double the number of supported internships by 2025, engaging with employers and young people to level up the quality of Supported Internships across the programme.
In addition to their involvement in Internships Work, BASE will offer personalised support to young people in acquiring skills and independence by training over 700 new job coaches by 2025.
You can read more about Internships Work and BASE by visiting their websites.
Call for Evidence into the use of Unregistered Alternative Provision closes 30 September
As part of the SEND and AP green paper, the DfE committed to review and improve oversight and accountability for unregistered alternative provision settings. To inform and support a national vision and delivery model for alternative provision, the department launched a call for evidence. It is predominantly aimed at commissioners, including schools and local authorities, as well as unregistered providers who deliver the education. It asks those with a practical understanding of how these provisions are arranged and operate to share their views.
The call for evidence closes Friday 30 September. Further information is available on GOV.UK.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
The Standards and Testing Agency are very grateful to SEND schools for their engagement with the statutory implementation of the Reception Baseline Assessment during the 2021-2022 academic year.
The RBA has been designed so that almost all children, including children with SEND, can access the assessment, and modified materials are available. There are, however, a small proportion of SEND pupils for whom the assessment is not appropriate.
Our experience this year has shown that SEND schools aren't always aware that where the school decides that it is not appropriate for a pupil to take the assessment, the headteacher must record this decision on the Baseline ePortal (BeP), including where this applies to an entire cohort. Failure to do so may mean your school is marked as not engaging with the RBA and will result in chase activity. As such, we would like to remind SEND schools of this requirement ahead of the Reception Baseline Assessment due to take place in September 2022-2023 academic year.
For more information on the RBA please visit GOV.UK. If you have any questions, please contact the reception baseline assessment helpline on 0330 088 4171 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written by: Lindsey Rousseau
Consultation on reviews of Education, Health and Care plans: proposed timescales
The department is seeking views on the deadline for a local authority issuing proposals to amend an Education, Health and Care plan following a review meeting. For further details and to respond before 23:45 on Friday 12 August, visit GOV.UK.
Reviews of Education, Health and Care plans: proposed timescales
Recent DfE publications on behaviour and music
We recently published the documents listed below that will be of particular interest to those with an interest in SEND.
Updated Behaviour in Schools guidance, Suspension and Permanent Exclusion guidance and Searching, Screening and Confiscation guidance
We recently published the updated behaviour in schools guidance, updated suspension and permanent exclusion guidance, updated searching, screening and confiscation at school guidance and our response to the public consultation on behaviour and exclusions.
These legislative changes will come into force in September 2022.
The Power of Music to Change Live: National Plan for Music Education
We recently published The Power of Music to Change Lives: A National Plan for Music Education. The plan sets out the government’s vision to enable all children and young people in England to:
- learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together
- have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents, including professionally
The plan sets out available support for schools e.g. through their local music hub, and is clear about the importance of music for all pupils, including those with SEND. You can find examples of good practice in the case studies document which includes specialist settings. You may also be interested to read this blog from panellist David Stanley: A National Plan for Music Education to help children and young people with SEND thrive (themusicmanblog.com).
The Government also announced new investment of £25 million capital funding from Autumn 2023, to enable the purchase of musical instruments and technology, including adaptive instruments where needed for pupils with SEND. Further information will be provided in due course.
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